Push Admin

Health Workers Serving Through the Holidays

Health workers at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila work through the long weekend on October 31, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<div><span dir="ltr" id="isPasted"></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20231031-jose-fabella-workers-long-weekend-75.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Health workers at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila work through the long weekend on October 31, 2023. Makr Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Health workers at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila work through the long weekend on October 31, 2023. <em><strong>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File.</strong></em></span></span></span></div><p>STO. TOMAS, Pampanga — Hospitals are also bracing for the effects of the strong El Niño especially in terms of ensuring water supply — a resource essential to the daily operations of medical facilities.</p><p>At the sidelines of the inauguration of the country’s first urgent care and ambulatory service facility in Santo Tomas, Pampanga, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said he has also formed an El Niño Task Force within the agency to specifically oversee and guide health facilities during the climate phenomenon.</p><p>“Lahat ng ospital directors hiningan ko El Niño preparedness plan. Part of the plan is water and electricity. Kinakausap na ang hospital directors para suppliers ng generator sets,” he said.</p><p>“The hospital cannot function without water. Wala kang sterilization, wala kang surgery, wala kang laboratory. So running water is a very important problem for hospitals pag nangyari ang El Niño kasi they will cut down water to the irrigation, water supply sa households.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/5/above-normal-temperatures-for-march-may-due-to-el-nino-un-1617" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: Above-normal temperatures for March-May due to El Niño -- UN</a></div><p>The Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital, which serves as central Luzon’s regional hospital, is among the many facilities gearing up for the anticipated effects of El Niño.</p><p>With several water sources in place, it is not leaving anything to chance and is also set to put up additional elevated water tanks which will can store 695 cubic meters of water good for three days.</p><p>Hospital Engineer Erwin Saguimo explained how important a steady supply of water for any hospital is.</p><p>“Mahalaga po ang water sa ospital po kasi laging ini-implement dito yung paghuhugas ng kamay pagdating sa mga pasyente. JBL is catering to 800 to 1,000 patients per day--those patients kailangan talaga ng water everyday,” Saguimo said.</p><p>Following the pandemic, he said hospitals are even more cognizant of the need to maintain the cleanliness of different facilities, with or without an infectious disease.</p><p>The hospital culls its water mainly from a deep well. Should this fail, it has another backup line from water districts that can be used to fill the 12 existing water tanks.</p><div><strong>MORE THAN JUST HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES</strong></div><p>Aside from heat-related illnesses, the health chief also reminds the public is also reminded to be wary of other diseases that may become prevalent during El Niño.</p><p>Among these illnesses are water and vector-borne diseases.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/6/el-nino-weakens-but-will-keep-temperatures-high-un-weather-agency-1057">READ: El Nino weakens but will keep temperatures high, UN weather agency says</a></div><p>“&#x27;Pag mahina ang tubig yung pipe distribution of any LGU, pinapasok nagse-seepage ang bacteria, ang ecoli, cholera, tumataas ang water-born diseaes. So very important to filter water, boil water,” Herbosa said.</p><p>Vector-borne diseases like dengue are also common during El Niño as the public stores water in open containers which may serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes.</p><p>“Sa ngayon mababa ang dengue cases. Pero natatakot ako baka pag El Niño dumami ang lamok. &#x27;Pag dumami ang lamok, dadami na naman ang dengue. So &#x27;yong mag-iipon ng tubig, takpan niyo para hindi mangitlog ang lamok,” the health secretary added.</p><p>Hospitals, according to Herbosa, have been advised to begin training personnel particularly emergency medicine doctors to better respond to various illnesses the public may experience at the height of the devastating effects of El Niño.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2970146"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

<p>Hospitals are also bracing for the effects of the strong El Niño especially in terms of ensuring water supply — a resource essential to the daily operations of medical facilities.</p>

Hospitals are also bracing for the effects of the strong El Niño especially in terms of ensuring water supply — a resource essential to the daily operations of medical facilities.

Health facilities prepare for stable water supply amid El Niño

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Health facilities prepare for stable water supply amid El Niño

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 06, 2024 04:54 PM PHT

Read More:

El Niño

water levels

hospitals

Department of Health

Secretary Teodoro Herbosa

Jose B Lingad Memorial Hospital

Pampanga

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.