Medical personnel on alert during Fiesta Señor celebration – Bernadas

DO NOT forget to bring your maintenance medicines, food and water when attending Fiesta Señor-related activities.

This was the advise of Dr. Jaime Bernadas, Regional Director of the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH)-7, to devotees who plan to troop to Cebu City to attend religious activities that will start on January 11 and the Sinulog grand parade on January 21.

Bernadas said that Cebuanos, especially those suffering from hypertension, diabetes and other illnesses, should make sure that they do not suffer from dehydration while outside of their homes.

He is also asking the public to refrain from eating street food to avoid the risk of food poisoning.

“We do not know how these foods were prepared, stored and handled. Aside from these, they (buyers) are prone to contamination,” he said.

Those who want to bring along their children and elderly relatives are advised to reconsider their plan.

Bernadas said there will always be risks of accidents when there is a huge crowd.

He said in an interview on Tuesday that government hospitals in Cebu will be placed on ‘Code White’ status starting on January 11 and until after the Sinulog grand parade on January 21 to make sure that enough personnel are prepared to respond to medical emergencies during the 453rd Fiesta Señor celebration.

Hundreds of devotees are expected to crowd Cebu City during the start of the novena Mass at the basilica on January 11.

An even bigger crowd is expected during the fluvial and foot procession on January 20 and the Sinulog grand parade the next day.

DOH-7, he said, will also set up medical stations close to areas where large crowds are expected to convene.

“The teams will be composed of 7-10 members with doctors and nurses from DOH, LGUs, national agencies and health volunteers. We will also be finalizing the number of ambulances that we will deploy during the said celebration,” Bernadas said.