Heroes' homecoming: Phl medical team back after treating over 1K in quake-hit Myanmar

Members of the Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) of the Department of Health (DOH) returned to the country on Monday, 14 April, after providing medical aid to over 1,000 patients in earthquake-hit Myanmar.

Following the 7.7-magnitude tremor that struck Myanmar on 28 March, the DOH deployed PEMAT, which includes doctors, nurses, medical technologists, pharmacists, midwives, and nursing attendants, on 1 April.

The mission was the first deployment of DOH PEMAT after it was recognized by the World Health Organization as a Type 1 Fixed-Post Emergency Medical Team (EMT) in September 2024.

The temporary health facility set up by DOH PEMAT in Pyinmana has provided services to more than 1,000 patients.

Their services included emergency treatment and care for those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Aside from medical services, the team also provided mental health and psychosocial support services to individuals severely affected by the quake.

Dr. Ivy Lozada, one of the members of PEMAT, said what they did in Myanmar "wasn't just about medication," but "about compassion and team work, and the belief that health is a human right."

DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa expressed his gratitude to the group.

"You carried with you not only life-saving equipment and supplies but also the warmth of the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan: Ready to heal, to help, and to stand in solidarity with those in distress," Herbosa said.

Herbosa also once again dispatched experts from the Health Emergency Bureau, National Center for Mental Health, and East Avenue Medical Center to Yangon, Myanmar, to continue providing emergency medical services, mental health, and psychosocial support to Filipinos there.

The group is also part of the Rapid Response Team that includes representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.