DOH: 642 ‘health consultations’ in Nazarene fests

THE Department of Health reported that some 642 health consultations were logged during the three-day activities intended for the Feast of the Black Nazarene from January 6 to 9.

“The DOH, in light of ‘Traslacion 2023,’ is implementing active monitoring of the event situation,” said the DOH in an advisory.

“In addition, Health operating units are on standby for any situation that may arise,” it said.

Of the total cases, DOH data showed that four consultations were hospitalized, three were already discharged, and one patient is still under observation.

The majority of the consultations, or 577, accounted for cardio-related consultations, particularly hypertension, hypotension, chest pain, and blood pressure monitoring, among others. This is followed by trauma-related with 43 (wounds, lacerations), neurological-related with 10 (headaches, dizziness), respiratory-related with 8 (difficulty breathing, asthma), and only four were gastro-related (abdominal pain, loose bowel movement).

In its 11 p.m. medical bulletin, Quiapo Church Operation Center reported that only two devotees from neurological-related incidents and 13 cardio-related problems were given treatment by the medical volunteers stationed around the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

The latest tally from the QCOC showed that some 587,000 devotees have participated in hourly mass from 12 a.m. until 11 p.m. At the same time, 14,800 faithful attended the 11 p.m. Eucharistic Celebration, the last holy mass for the feast day.

A total of 24 masses were celebrated during the feast day and various LED televisions were installed in various areas around Quiapo so as to regulate the influx of devotees going inside the Quiapo Church and the Plaza Miranda. 

Communion posts were also put up in the prayer stations so devotees would not risk lining up for hours inside the Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

Quiapo officials designated various stations in order to prevent gatherings of devotees and to avoid making the celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene a “superspreader event.”