Doctors on boats sail for typhoon victims

MANILA, Philippines — Doctors on boats are arriving in areas devastated by Typhoons Rolly and Quinta to provide emergency medical services for the calamity-stricken residents, it was learned yesterday.

Philippine Medical Association (PMA) president Benito Atienza said their group has reactivated the “Doctors on Boats” program to be able to penetrate remote and deeply flooded barangays to deliver crucial medical services as well as relief goods.

Atienza said psychiatrists and spiritual leaders are included in the medical teams, to provide mind and spiritual support to the flood victims.

“Through our Doctors on Boats program, we will once again serve not only the crucial medical needs of our people but also address their psychosocial processing needs in this current crisis while we bring to them much needed relief goods and drinking water, too,” the PMA president said in a statement.

The PMA is also opening its main office on North Avenue, Quezon City as well as the offices of its local chapters or societies nationwide for those who would like to donate relief goods for the victims of the typhoons.

“We are calling on everybody to help the victims of the recent calamities by sending much needed relief goods to all our offices nationwide so we can distribute them to the storm victims,” Atienza said.

Atienza said the PMA is undertaking the program together with their partner-organizations in the on-going nationwide free telemedicine service.

The PMA is also partnering with the Philippine National Police, through its Maritime Command, to further the reach of its services, he said.