US medical mission for Ruby-affected areas no longer needed, says DOH

The Department of Health has declined the services of a US response team offering rescue efforts related to Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

 

Mammoth Medical Missions, in a statement, said its forward surgical team decided to stand down for rescue efforts following the DOH's decision.

 

"Approximately midday local time, the Philippine Department of Health announced that the services of Foreign Medical Teams such as ours were no longer needed to assist in the rescue effort," said founder and CEO Dr. Michael Karch.

 

"Ultimately, what rescue and relief organizations hope for is that their services are not needed thus indicating that people they are serving are safe. Although our surgical services were not needed, our ability to mobilize a team and rapidly deploy proved readiness at every level of our organization," he added.

 

Mammoth Medical Missions had helped in the response to victims of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last year.

 

Ruby lashed parts of the Visayas and southern Luzon last weekend. It was crossing the West Philippine Sea before noon and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Wednesday evening.

 

Meanwhile, Karch lauded the Philippine government, military and civilians for making "great pre-emptive strides with regards to mass evacuations of the civilian population before the storm."

 

"This effort to move one million people could possibly represent a paradigm shift in the management of disaster preparedness and may serve as a valuable lesson for populations exposed to Typhoon and cyclonic events.  
 

Because of this and other lessons learned from Super Typhoon Haiyan, many lives were saved and injuries prevented in what could have been another catastrophic event for the population," he said. — Joel Locsin/VC, GMA News