THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) dispatched a 17-member team of medical and support personnel to San Lazaro Hospital on Tuesday to help manage a sudden influx of leptospirosis patients.
The emergency deployment was arranged after hospital management requested assistance to handle a sharp rise in cases, which reached 139 patients as of 8:00 AM Tuesday.
The deployed PRC team includes:
- Nurses: 6 full-fledged nurses
- Student Nurses: 6 student nurse volunteers
- Administrative Volunteers: 3 support volunteers
- Medical Corps Staff: 2 staff members from the PRC Medical Corps Volunteers – Nursing Team
The team will directly support hospital staff by tracking vital signs, monitoring patient fluid intake and output, and assisting with necessary laboratory testing.
PRC Chairman Richard Gordon emphasized the organization’s commitment to stepping in during healthcare spikes.
“When the number of patients increases, the number of people helping must also increase,” Gordon noted, adding that the trained volunteers will help ensure standard patient care remains uninterrupted despite the high volume of admissions.
PRC Secretary General Gwen Pang reaffirmed that the deployment aligns with the PRC’s mandate to bolster the national healthcare system during emergencies.
The organization confirmed it remains in close coordination with San Lazaro Hospital administrators and stands ready to send additional manpower should the surge continue.
