Government hospitals are ready for all firecracker injury patients this New Year.
This was the assurance given by Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III few hours before the most-awaited New Year’s Eve revelry.
The health chief visited the Quezon Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) in Quezon City to make sure that the hospital’s emergency rooms are fully-equipped.
“They are fully prepared to manage whatever emergencies… We see that the ERs [emergency rooms] of the hospitals — Jose R.Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, and Quezon Memorial Medical Center — everybody is ready to provide quality emergency care,” said Duque.
“We have seen the levels of preparation. It has become better each year, there is evidence of improvement and progress in the way things are being provided, the care,” he added.
Earlier, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) convened and imposed a resolution banning the manufacture, sale, and use of firecrackers in the National Capital Region (NCR). The MMC is composed of 17 mayors in Metro Manila.
As per DOH’s data, a 35 percent decrease in firecracker-related injuries was recorded in January. There were 164 documented cases nationwide, 87 cases lower than the 251 cases recorded in 2019. RJ Espartinez