Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Monday gave an additional P60 million to fund six public hospitals in the city as part of the local government’s health program and boost its capability to respond to dengue and Zika virus.
“My directive to all the officials and personnel of our city hospitals, health centers and other related facilities is to always be prepared for any eventuality,” said Estrada.
His move came on the heels of reports that the first case of Zika virus in Asia was recorded in China while 200,415 cases of dengue were recorded in the Philippines in 2015. Of the dengue cases nationwide, more than 25,000 cases occurred in Metro Manila.
“Zika virus is a mosquito-borne, same as dengue. Our main concern is that the mosquito is here and whether it contains the virus or not, we do not know. What we can and must do now is prevention. But we are prepared for dengue, it has the same symptoms,” said Dr. Regina Bagsic, overall coordinator for Manila’s hospitals.
She said they are in strict compliance and close coordination with the Department of Health and that they are now in the process of sending out information bulletins to the different city hospitals to raise awareness about Zika.
Bagsic said,”The thing with Zika virus is that it is benign. The symptoms are manageable and we have enough facilities and medicines for that, and these are free for Manila citizens.”
“The Manila City government is always beefing up its preparations for any health outbreak. Rest assured that not only the DoH is monitoring the Zika virus. The city government led by Mayor Estrada is exerting all efforts to assist the citizens with our free, prompt and complete health and medical services,” she added.
