PGMA's Statement on the issue of the dreaded Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS |
Music Room, Malacanang (04 April 2003) |
MY FELLOW COUNTRYMEN: WHILE COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES LIKE CHINA, HONG KONG, VIETNAM, SINGAPORE, CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE RECORDED VARIOUS CASES OF THE DREADED SARS, THERE HAS BEEN NO SINGLE DOCUMENTED CASE IN THE PHILIPPINES AS REPORTED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. NONETHELESS, IN RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC'S GROWING CONCERN TOWARDS THE DANGERS WHICH SARS POSES TO OUR COUNTRYMEN, I HAVE CREATED A SARS MANAGEMENT TEAM HEADED BY HEALTH SECRETARY MANUEL DAYRIT. OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM ARE SECRETARY PATRICIA STO. TOMAS OF DOLE, UNDERSECRETARY LAURO BAJA OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, IMMIGRATION COMMISSIONER ANDREA DOMINGO, UNDERSECRETARY ED SOLIMAN OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PRESS UNDERSECRETARY MILTON ALINGOD, COMMODORE RUBEN LISTA OF THE COAST GUARD, GENERAL MANAGER EDGARDO MANDA OF THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY, AND DR. JAIME MONTOYA OF THE PHILIPPINE SOCIETY OF MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER ROY GOLEZ IS THE ADVISER OF THIS CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM. THE DOH HAS ALREADY PUT IN PLACE ALL MEASURES AND STRATEGIES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE INFECTION. THE TEAM WILL BE ON TOP OF A WELL-COORDINATED IMPLEMENTATION OF A SYSTEM THAT CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS, AMONG OTHERS: ONE, A RAPID IDENTIFICATION, ISOLATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SUSPECTED SARS CASES IN OUR HOSPITALS; TWO, THE PREVENTION OF THE ENTRY INTO THE COUNTRY AND SPREAD OF POSSIBLE CASES THROUGH AN EFFECTIVE QUARANTINE SYSTEM AT OUR PORTS OF ENTRY; AND THREE, A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM THAT WILL NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO MANAGE THE FLOW OF VITAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC BUT HANDLE PUBLIC ANXIETY AS WELL. I ASSURE OUR PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THE EXPERTISE AND ENOUGH RESOURCES IN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM TO ADEQUATELY MANAGE ANY POSSIBLE SARS CASE. IN THE EVENT OF AN OUTBREAK, THE SAN LAZARO HOSPITAL AND THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL MEDICINE WILL BE AT THE APEX OF THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM THAT IS PROPERLY EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE INFLUX OF LARGE NUMBERS OF CASES. AT THIS POINT, I ENJOIN EVERYONE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO MANAGE THE SITUATION. DO NOT ENTERTAIN RUMORS SPREAD BY TEXT MESSAGES, E-MAIL OR ANY OTHER MEANS. IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS, CALL UP ANY OF OUR SARS HOTLINES FOR INFORMATION OR HELP. LET US BE CALM BUT PREPARE FOR THE WORST. THIS WAS OUR POLICY FOR THE IRAQ WAR AND WE ARE REAPING THE DIVIDENDS OF OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS. EDUCATION, INFORMATION, ALERTNESS, SOBRIETY AND A SENSE OF PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY AMONG ALL FILIPINOS -- THESE ARE WHAT WE NEED TODAY. THANK YOU. |