MANILA Health Department (MHD) head Dr. Grace Padilla has directed all authorities running the six city-run hospitals in the city to conduct awareness trainings and drills among their personnel on what they should do in case of an earthquake.  

Padilla, who is also the director of the Ospital ng Maynila (OM), also gave the same directive to those in charge of the 44 health centers in the city which, she said, are also expected to be on high alert and prepared during times of calamities and emergency situations to assist the hospitals.

She said preparedness is key, to ensure the safety not only of the patients being taken care of in the said hospitals but moreso, of the staff themselves.

In giving the directive, Padilla notes how hospital functions in areas hit by earthquakes recently have been adversely affected.

She also underscored that in order to protect the patients, the staff must first be equipped with the proper and adeaquate knowledge on how to provide protection to themselves, so they can be able to save the patients.

According to Padilla, they would not want to have any personnel from the hospital becoming casualty in the event of such emergencies when all hands need to be on deck.

In Manila, there are six hospitals being operated by the local government.  One hospital is assigned to each of the six districts of the city.(MARISA SON)