Thailand to send more assistance to typhoon-hit Philippines next week

BANGKOK, November 15 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Public Health, will send another set of assistance, including medicines, covering antibiotics, painkillers and medicines for gastrointestinal tract diseases, as well as saline solution worth altogether about 20 million baht, to the Philippines on November 18, 2013. Public Health Minister Dr. Pradit Sintawanarong told journalists on Friday that his ministry, in conjunction with the Royal Thai Air Force, will represent the Thai government in delivering the assistance through C-130 military aircraft. Dr. Pradit said that his ministry has also prepared teams of doctors to help victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines once it is notified by Manila. The public health minister elaborated that his ministry has prepared about 40 doctors, nurses, psychiatrists and pharmacists from Bangkok and other provinces to treat the disaster's victims in the Philippines. According to the public health minister, if the Philippines sought the Thai personnel, they would board a Royal Thai Air Force C-130 plane or a Royal Thai Navy vessel, together with medicines, medical supplies and disaster relief gear, and their journey by sea would take about seven days and a naval vessel in the mission could also function as accommodation, a kitchen and a mobile hospital. Besides, the Thai medical personnel can also travel on aboard helicopters to set up mobile inland hospitals to better reach the Philippine victims, with their departure also expected next week. Meanwhile, Dr. Wichira Pengjuntr, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health, assessed that rehabilitation after the November 8 destructive disaster in the Philippines should take at least three months. (TNA)