Rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday said the healthcare sector plays a crucial role in efforts to rebuild areas devastated in November by supertyphoon Yolanda.
“We need you to help us arrive at health outcomes that would build our country back better, safer, and more resilient,” Lacson, the presidential assistant on rehabilitation and recovery, told delegates attending the Philippine National Health Research System forum in Radisson Blu, Cebu City.
Lacson said he believes that healthcare professionals can help draft action plans to identify and raise awareness on health problems affecting the typhoon victims and come up with solutions.
With the approval of a P171-billion master recovery plan, Lacson said rehabilitation efforts are expected to shift to higher gear. “But even with the massive mobilization of government resources and downloading of funds to implementing agencies, we will still need the health sector to play more significant roles,” he said.
Multi-sectoral
Health Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag said preparedness is the key to manage effects of disasters.
He said the Department of Health makes sure that proper sanitation in affected areas is observed, clean water is provided, vaccinations are given to children, and emergency medical services are rendered.
But the health sector cannot do it alone. We need a multi-sectoral collaboration in disaster management. The department is part of a coordinated response,” Tayag said.
Tayag said the country needs to build bigger and stronger hospitals and improve coordination with other countries in disaster and emergency management. Tayag added that adequate preparation can minimize damage during calamities.
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