Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap Estrada” has made sure his city is battle-ready for Zika virus, just in case it reaches the Philippines.
On Sunday (February 14), Estrada allotted P60 million of funding for six public hospitals in response to the fast-spreading virus and similar diseases like dengue. The hospitals were given P10 million each.
“Patuloy ang aking pagtitiyak na kailangang laging handa ang ating mga ospital, pati mga health centers at iba pang pasilidad para sa anumang posibleng mangyari,” said Estrada in a statement.
[Translation: We continue to make sure that our hospitals, health centers and other facilities are ready for possible incidents.]
Related: Zika virus’s other looming threat
What’s in it for the Manila residents then?
“Libre ang hospital. Libre ang doktor. Wala pa namang nade-develop na gamot talaga for dengue and Zika pero meron kaming sapat na suplay ng IV fluids para sa rehydration, at paracetamol. Kung kailangan ng pasyente ng platelet transfusion, tutulungan namin silang makakuha sa mga blood bank,” said Dr. Regina Bagsic, overall coordinator of the six public hospitals administered by the local government.
[Translation: No hospital fees. No doctor fees. There hasn’t been a cure developed yet for dengue and Zika bu we have enough supply of IV fluids for rehydration, and paracetamol. Should the patient need platelet transfusion, we will help them get from blood banks.]
Last year, the Department of Health recorded 200,415 cases of dengue, 25,208 of which were from the National Capital Region.
