Kanlaon evacuees’ health care boosted
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Following the death of two baby evacuees in the past two months, more health care personnel will be deployed in evacuation centers in La Castellana, Negros Occidental to prevent the spread of diseases, according to the provincial government.
Girlie Pinongan, chief of the provincial health office, said personnel from the PHO, municipal health office and Department of Health-Center for Health and Development-Negros Island Region (DOH-CHD-NIR) will be deployed in evacuation centers to strictly monitor the health situation of evacuees.
On Jan. 25, a nine-month-old baby evacuee was admitted in a government hospital, but died on the same day of pneumonia.
The baby had been sufferring from cough and intermittent fever for several days before he was referred to a doctor.
On Dec. 9, another baby staying in an evacuation center in La Castellana died of cardiopulmonary arrest.
Pinongan said some evacuation centers are congested, which can cause diseases to spread easily.
She said the augmentation of health personnel in evacuation centers is intended to address the needs of people displaced by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.
At present, the DOH-CHD-NIR has deployed 140 doctors, nurses, and medical and technical staff in 18 evacuation centers in Bago City, La Carlota, La Castellana and San Carlos in Negros Occidental as well as Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
As of Jan. 29, there were 29 evacuees who sought medical help for acute respiratory infection, 12 for hypertension and three for acute watery diarrhea, the DOH said.