The Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Health Emergency Response Team (HERT) was deployed to Negros Island on Friday, November 14, following the directive of DOH Undersecretary Gregorio T. Murillo Jr. for Mindanao Centers for Health Development (CHDs) to reinforce Visayas CHDs responding to Typhoon Tino’s aftermath.
The team is composed of medical officers, nurses, surveillance officers, WASH engineers, nutrition assessors, and mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS) providers.
On November 20, the team visited Don Benito Lopez Elementary School in Hacienda Antolanga, Barangay Tinongan, Isabela, to conduct MHPSS sessions for pupils who witnessed firsthand how flash floods engulfed their homes.
In the said community, floodwaters rose to roof level and swept away nearly 90 percent of the school’s infrastructure, including school records.
School head Waren Geronca expressed gratitude to the team, saying he had been planning to look for experts to conduct psychosocial interventions.
He said he was “thankful” that DOH-Davao provided the necessary support to pupils who continue to bear the brunt of the disaster.
Isabela Mayor Miguel Yulo also thanked the health officials for visiting the town and coordinating assistance.
Areas visited
The team also carried out ocular inspections across key evacuation centers in La Castellana, including St. Vincent’s High School, Don Felix Robles Elementary School, Latter-day Saints Church, La Castellana SPED Center, Bagong Silangan FASTRAC EC – Mt. Kanlaon Emergency Post, Velez Malaga Elementary School, La Castellana Elementary School, La Castellana Main EC, and Don Felix ES EC.
The visit enabled responders to assess living conditions, identify gaps, and act promptly on health risks affecting displaced families.
DOH engineers and inspectors also conducted water testing and expanded the distribution of hygiene kits, jerry cans, and aquatabs. They intensified community education on WASH practices in barangays and evacuation centers, DOH-Davao said in its press statement.
A separate team of Davao-based health professionals also provided services to individuals affected by the calamity in Cebu.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.