Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral (8th from left)gave a token of appreciation to the Philippine Humanitarian Team to Haiti for their unconditional dedication and perseverance in demonstrating the Filipino work of healing and caring to others during tiimes of disaster. The team, led by Dr. Emmanuel Bueno of the East Avenue Medical Center , is compose of Dr. Arnel Rivera, Dr.Romeo Bituin, Dr.Glomar Malana, Dr. Edilberto Tamayo, Dr. Christian Lee , Dr. Ryan Conrad Carnero, Dr. Alexander Ramos, Dr. Jose Evan Pagunsan, dr. David Mendoza, and Dr. Roland Cruz. Other members include Ms. Mayo Santiago, Mr. Willy Viloria, Mr. Dennis de Guzman, Mr. Ceasario Castro, Ms. Celia Pangan, Ms. remedios Guerrero, Ms. read more

Press Release/3 February 2010  The 21-man Philippine Humanitarian Team sent by the Department of Health (DOH) hit the ground running upon their arrival in quake-devastated Haiti, as they immediately rendered badly-needed medical services at two locations in the capital Port-au-Prince, Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral reported today.  Cabral disclosed that after consultation with the Health Cluster coordinator, Dr. Dana Van Alphen, the team chose to serve at the Hospitalier Eliazar Germain, a 45-bed facility one-and-a-half hours away from the United Nations base where the team had set up camp. The Philippine humanitarian team replaced the Miami Medical Mission, which had been managing the hospital until they pulled out last January 30. There the team performed debridement and other surgical procedures for wounded patients.  read more

Newly-minted Department of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral immediately plunged into action as she held an early morning briefing with top DOH officials led by Undersecretaries Mario Villaverde and Alexander Padilla, who updated Secretary Cabral on the accomplishments of the Department, as well as its current goals and thrusts. That same morning, Secretary Cabral, heeding President Arroyo’s instruction for the country to join multinational relief efforts for Haiti, has also ordered the deployment of a medical team composed of doctors, nurses and sanitary engineers to the quake-devastated Caribbean nation. Usec. Villaverde, Director Maylene Beltran of the Bureau of International Health Cooperation and Director Carmencita Banatin of the Health Emergency Management Services met with Undersecretary Esteban Cornejos and Atty. Enrico Fos of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to coordinate the sending of the Filipino medical contingent. read more