Medications are delivered to areas affected by the oil spill

The residents of communities in Oriental Mindoro affected by the oil spill received medications and other health supplies from the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday.

Maria Rosario Vergeire, the DOH officer in charge, traveled to the province and oversaw the distribution of medical supplies to local government bodies (LGUs).

“The DOH is ready to help in the medical needs of the province of Oriental Mindoro that is affected by the oil spill,” Vergeire said in Filipino. “This incident calls for a whole-of-government approach, and with the environment being a major determinant of the health of our people.”

The MT Princess Empress tanker capsized last week off the coast of Oriental Mindoro while carrying 800,000 liters of industrial oil.

There have been reports of minor health issues among locals as a result of the spill.

The DOH noted that there may be risks from the oil spill to not only the environment but also to the health of residents of the communities that are affected

“Despite an oil spill not being a common occurrence, it may lead to the destruction of sea life and the health of people exposed to it,” the DOH said in Filipino.

In order to avoid being permanently displaced, the DOH advised residents of the affected communities to temporarily leave their homes.

To lessen the effects of the oil spill in the communities of Oriental Mindoro, the DOH is collaborating closely with other concerned national government agencies and LGUs, claims Vergeire.

Along with medicines, the DOH gave local government units (LGUs) access to oxygen concentrators, nebulizers, face masks, and other medical equipment gathered from Metro Manila hospitals.

To support the primary care providers onsite, DOH toxicology experts are also on call.

Through close collaboration with the provincial government and LGUs, the health official gave the residents of the affected communities the assurance that they would have access to clean water and protective equipment.

Vergeire asserted that the government is making every effort to safeguard citizens from any risks that may result from the incident.

DOH has been providing support to LGUs over the past few days to make sure that the immediate needs of the affected communities are met.

Vergeire met with representatives of the local government in Oriental Mindoro yesterday to discuss enhancing local health facilities, patient referral, and disaster response capacity building.

Responders, volunteers, and cleanup crew members were urged by the DOH to wear the appropriate safety gear to reduce health risks.