Tacloban: The Department of Health in Eastern Visayas (DOH-8) has completed its annual hospital rounds and inspections of selected facilities here and in Palo, Leyte, as part of its Ligtas Christmas (Safe Christmas) campaign.
According to Philippines News Agency, the activity was led by the DOH Region 8's Executive Committee, in coordination with the Health Emergency Management Services Unit, the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, and the Health Promotion Unit. It aimed to assess the preparedness of key regional hospitals to respond to emergencies during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Hospitals visited included Eastern Visayas Medical Center, Divine Word Hospital, Mother of Mercy Hospital, Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Hospital, Shalom Hospital, Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center, Leyte Provincial Hospital, Tacloban City Hospital, and ACE Medical Center.
Inspectors evaluated emergency department readiness, availability of essential medical supplies and commodities, staffing levels and duty schedules, referral mechanisms, and monitoring systems to ensure the delivery of safe, timely, and quality health services throughout the festive period, according to a statement from DOH Region 8.
The Ligtas Christmas campaign aims to strengthen hospital readiness for common holiday-related emergencies, particularly firecracker-related injuries and road traffic accidents, which historically increase during the Yuletide season. The monitoring also covers preparedness for conditions such as heart attacks, stroke, and asthma attacks.
Based on DOH regional reports, 34 firecracker-related injuries were recorded from Dec. 23, 2024, to the first five days of Jan. 2025, significantly higher than the eight cases reported during the same period in 2023 and 2024. Most of the cases involved male patients who sustained blast or burn injuries from firecrackers such as kwitis. Some incidents resulted in severe outcomes, including amputations and eye injuries, highlighting the continuing public health challenge of preventing firework-related harm during holiday celebrations.
Health officials reiterated the importance of preventive measures and community vigilance, urging residents to avoid risky activities, adhere to safety advisories, and ensure readiness of health facilities.
