Mactan air base hospital treats 472 patients from Tacloban City

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 16): Mactan air base hospital treats 472 patients from Tacloban City

The medical staff of the hospital at the Mactan Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City has so far treated at least 472 patients from supertyphoon Yolanda-ravaged Tacloban City and other typhoon survivors from Eastern Visayas.

Col. Aurora Helen Natividad, the air base's hospital commanding officer, said they referred those with severe injuries to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

"We are expecting more patients this week," said Natividad.

She said 40 percent of the patients were discharged.

Aside from treating people with minor injuries, she said they also treated babies suffering from diarrhea and adults with hypertension and respiratory infection.

She said they need bandages, antibiotics, pain relievers, antiseptics and sterile water packs.

Volunteers were busy giving food packs to evacuees. They later had to clean up spilled noodles, water and juice, and pick up styrofoam packs and plastic bags that the evacuees left.

Many residents of Eastern Visayas fled their towns and cities that were devastated by super typhoon Yolanda for lack of food, water and for fear of armed looters.

They arrived at this air based aboard the Philippine Air Force C-130 Hercules military transport planes which flew relief goods to Tacloban City.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=587376