Thursday, November 20, 2014

Davao City utilizes 911 for ebola response

DAVAO CITY- The Central 911 emergency response system will be an essential tool for Davao City’s response to Ebola.

Dr. Joy Villafuerte, City Health Officer said that they have protocols in place in case suspected Ebola cases are detected in the airport and along the communities.

And common protocol is to contact Davao City’s Central 911 for the response.

In the airport where a passenger is detected with fever by airport scanners and is found out by quarantine officers to have visited a country hit by Ebola, the person will immediately be isolated by the quick response team who will contact the 911.

An ambulance will whisked the person the identified quarantine area at the Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC).

If a suspected case is reported in the community, they should immediately call 911 to alert response teams.

Villafuerte said Task Force Ebola has been activated with five teams;  The Rapid Action Team, The Surveillance Team, The Security and Transportation Team and the Information Team.

The Task Force are equipped with scanners deployed in the airport, a standby ambulance also assigned at the airport, plus protective gears donated by the Department of Health.

The Task Force is part of response plan for Ebola which will be approved by the City Mayor and will have a corresponding budget of P22-million.
Villafuerte said they are looking to purchase tents in case there is a huge number of Ebola cases. They are also looking for sites to be used as quarantine zones.

She said Davao City is ready for Ebola with the response protocols in place. (PIA/RG Alama)

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