The Department of Health (DOH) is currently on a Code White alert status to prepare for possible health-related incidents amid the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Friday.
Herbosa, in a video uploaded by DOH on its Facebook page, said that the department is not on a holiday, as public health officers have been deployed to expressways, cemeteries, and other places of convergence, as many Filipinos travel to their provincial homes.
The DOH chief reminded the public, especially those with maintenance medicines, to always bring their pills with them.
‘The Department of Health is not on holiday, we’re on what you call alert status (Code White) because every year, this is the time when our fellow Filipinos travel back home to their families and loved ones, their relatives in cemeteries. I have two medical teams here, we have two ambulances stationed, so (each team) we have four doctors here, and four nurses, so they can really attend to cases,’ Herbosa said after visiting an emergency tent at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx).
‘My reminder as Secretary of Health, do not forget your anti-hypertensive medicines, do not forget your anti-diabetic medicines, eat enough before traveling,’ he added.
Herbosa also urged motorists to be more patient on the road as heavy traffic flow is almost certain along the country’s major thoroughfares.
‘It’s very important that you bring your medicines, but leave your worries at home,’ he said.
‘If you will drive at this time, it is almost sure that there is heavy traffic flow because everyone wants to go home, we will all reach our relatives. Do not rush, give way to others, and practice road courtesy,’ he added.
According to Herbosa, they also advise people with influenza-like symptoms to stay at home, and those who cannot stay indoors to practice proper cough etiquette and frequent hand washing.
‘Another advice is if you have symptoms, influenza-like illnesses, to stay at home. This is the Department of Health’s warning: Stay safe, practice public health measures, cough etiquette. When you cough, cough on your elbow, or it would be better to cover it, and then throw the tissue properly after. And also frequent hand-washing,’ he said.
‘In all cemeteries with large crowds, our medical teams are present to respond.) Especially if it is a large cemetery, they cannot exit immediately; cars cannot enter, so you have to walk. However, if you’re of an advanced age, you might collapse. So it’s very important that we will just bring our first aid and medical stations closer,’ he added.
DOH also released several road safety reminders like the proper wearing of helmets for motorcycle riders, and the use of seatbelts for those inside cars.
As early as Thursday night, traffic started to build up over Metro Manila’s major land gateways to the north and south-the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEx)-as more individuals began returning to their provinces’ homes for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
On Friday, traffic at NLEx is lighter than expected, as many offices and local governments have decided to suspend work on Friday.