The Department of Health (DOH) has sent out PHP133 million worth of medical and public health emergency supplies, water sanitation and hygiene kits in areas hit hardest by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami).

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Friday said teams deployed from its regional offices and hospitals found that the highest illness reported is respiratory infection.

“Mr. President, for the human resources. We’ve actually deployed our teams from the regional offices and hospitals, so they’re actually there,” Herbosa said during a situation briefing with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Malacañang.

The medical teams distributed face masks and appropriate medicines while concerned local government units provided modular tents per family to contain the spread of infection, Teodoro said.

He also reported that there were several barangay health stations and hospitals damaged due to the weather disturbance.

“Two big hospitals in Bicol, Bicol Medical Center and Bicol Regional Medical Center in Albay, the one in Naga and one in Albay are both functional, although we lost power and we also lost damage to the internet server of our vehicle Medical Center. But the hospitals are functioning,” Herbosa said.

“We have a couple of hospitals that are functional in Batangas, but cannot be accessed because of floods,” he added.

Meanwhile, about PHP6.8 million has been allocated for nutrition and PHP1.8 million for psychosocial support of the storm victims.

Earlier, the DOH has activated Code Blue – the highest health emergency response to disaster – in Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, and Ilocos Region.

The agency maintains Code White in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. (PNA)