Health facilities
for Typhoon Haiyan survivors in Samar
By ICRC
April 28, 2015
MANILA – Eight health
facilities damaged by Super Typhoon Haiyan in Eastern Samar and Samar
provinces have been fully restored and handed over today to local
health authorities. As many as 60,000 people from seven municipalities
have access to of health services at these facilities.
The Albino M. Duran Memorial
Hospital in Balangiga, Eastern Samar, has provided preventive and
curative health-care services to at least 17,000 patients since March
2014. Additionally, seven barangay health centres – in Giporlos,
Guiuan, Lawaan, Mercedes and Quinapondan in Eastern Samar, and in
Basey in Samar – have been repaired or constructed.
“Now that the hospital has
been rehabilitated, there is no longer a need to refer patients to
other hospitals. They will save money and time as our services and
facilities are readily available,” said Dr. Benedicto Garcia, chief of
the Albino M. Duran Memorial Hospital.
The facilities were
rehabilitated and equipped by the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in coordination with
the Department of Health and local government authorities.
In 2014, the ICRC already
completed the repair of Basey District Hospital and six rural health
units in Eastern Samar and Samar provinces, and provided them with
medical equipment and furniture.
The ICRC, jointly with the
PRC, focused its response on the impact of Typhoon Haiyan on Samar
Island, which is partly affected by armed violence and where the ICRC
has been working for years to support the communities affected.
The ICRC is a neutral,
impartial and independent humanitarian organization whose mandate is
to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict and other
situations of violence. It has had an established presence in the
Philippines for over 60 years.