OCD says PH medical team in Turkey treated thousands during entire deployment

The 30-man medical team sent by the Philippines to Adiyaman province in Turkey. Photo from the Department of Health

MANILA, Philippines — For the whole duration of their deployment, members of the Philippine medical team sent to Turkey treated thousands of patients in the earthquake-hit country, the Office of Civil Defense said on Wednesday.

According to OCD, the 30-man Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (Pemat) catered to 1,022 ambulatory cases and referrals of cases requiring hospitalization brought to their field hospital in Adiyaman province as of February 24, their last day of operations.

The Department of Health also said Wednesday that the country donated P1.5 million worth of excess medical supplies in the country.

The Pemat is part of the 82-man interagency contingent  which arrived in Turkey last February 9.

During the whole duration of their search and retrieval, which stopped on February 24, the rescue team also retrieved six cadavers in 36 buildings.

The 82-man team had already returned to the country on Tuesday night, welcomed by government officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The death toll in Turkey from last month’s massive magnitude 7.8 earthquake has risen to 45,089, according to a Reuters report.

READ: Three rescued from Turkey rubble as earthquake death toll passes 45,000

JPV