DOH 6 sets meeting with RDCC members for H1N1 preparations
The Department of Health Region 6 headed by Director Ariel Valencia will meet with the members of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council to discuss on the readiness and management plans against the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.
The meeting is set to be held May 26, 2009 at the PNP Regional Command, said Director Valencia as he explained that Secretary Gilbert Teodoro of the Department of National Defense, who is also the chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council has designated Health Secretary Francisco Duque as the overall crisis manager.
“In effect all the Regional Directors of DOH were designated by Secretary Duque as the crisis manager at the regional level for this particular health concern,” Valencia said.
Valencia said that the RDCC meeting will be a venue for clarifying the role of each RDCC member-agencies regarding this health event.
Meanwhile, during the May 19 regular weekly presscon held at the PIA Regional Office, Director Valencia told Iloilo media of one case under observation (CUO) at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City. She is a 64-year old native of Aklan and a businesswoman, who arrived in the country from USA. She reportedly exhibits the symptoms related to H1N1.
A blood specimen of the patient has been sent to RITM which will immediately inform DOH region 6 whether it is really an H1N1 case or not.
In the meantime Director Valencia cautioned the public not to panic, as health authorities have undertaken pro-active measures to monitor the situation, adding that the Philippines remains H1N1- free. (PIA6/T.Villavert)