Typhoon Tino’s threat forces Libjo, Dinagat Islands RHU to operate 24/7
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY — With the imminent threat of Typhoon Tino, the Rural Health Unit and Family Planning Center in Libjo, Dinagat Islands, now operates 24/7 from Nov. 2-6 to ensure healthcare services are ready and accessible when most needed.
Operating on a regular schedule from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., the Libjo Rural Health Unit and Family Planning Center temporarily changed its hours of operation to extend its essential services to the Libjoanons, while the town is under the threat of Typhoon Tino.
Libjo Mayor Melody L. Compasivo, also the chairperson of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, took a significant step to ensure that the healthcare system in the town is uninterrupted despite the typhoon.
“It is our commitment to provide accessible healthcare to the people of Libjo, especially with the Typhoon Tino that is forecast to make landfall in the province,” she said.
As of Nov. 3 at 5:00 p.m., the local government of Libjo reported a total of 1,413 families or 4,466 individuals who left their homes and sought temporary shelter in the evacuation centers of the town as preemptive evacuation against Tino. In response, health care personnel of the facility conducted an evacuation center visitation and consultation to ensure the safety and well-being of the evacuees.
Mina, one of the evacuees, thanked the RHU personnel for checking if the evacuation center is safe for them and if proper sanitation is observed. “We also benefitted from the medical consultation and received free medicine and face mask to ensure spread of diseases will be prevented.”
Meanwhile, the local government of Libjo recently received a unit of patient transport vehicle (PTV) from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office which was turned over by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to the local chief executive.
The PTV, equipped with essential medical tools and supplies, is now on standby and ready to serve as a lifeline, ensuring efficient and safer transfer and referral of patients to higher level care facilities during challenging times. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands)
