DOH braces against diseases 06-07-16

	NORDIS WEEKLY July 16, 2006
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DOH braces against diseases
BAGUIO CITY (June 28) — Despite an assurance that the country remains free from the avian-flu virus plaguing Asian countries, the Department of Health (DOH) is on a year-round preparedness against diseases with outbreak proportions, its regional officials disclosed in a Kapihan media forum here. Dr. Cherry Pekas of the DOH-Cordillera Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit attribute this to preventive measures like the creation of task forces up to the municipal levels. Preparedness in the health sector, according to Pekas, includes training local people on health and first aid; maintaining a stock pile of medicines and coordination with local government units. DOH-Cordillera’s Elnoria Bugnosen added that although Cordillera hospitals still register cases of meningococcemia, the deaths due to the disease dramatically dropped by 90% while the incidence dropped by 93%. In 2005 news of a meningococcemia outbreak in Baguio City had an adverse effect on tourism and business that prompted health officials to create an advisory body for official issuances on the disease. Bugnosen said that in Mountain Province, there are no reported cases in the last six months even as in Benguet there were two cases reported in the same period. Pekas and Bugnosen, however, urged the public to maintain optimum cleanness to prevent the breeding of disease-carrying insects such as flies and mosquitoes. Pekas observes that with the onset of the rainy season, dengue fever cases starts to mount. “Mas mataas ang dengue sa buwan ng July,” she told the forum. Pekas recounted how Sta. Scholastica barangay prevented the emergence of a dengue epidemic by cleaning the surroundings while health teams conducted an etymological survey. The DOH is among government agencies trying to increase public awareness on disaster preparedness through massive information dissemination. Among those in the weekly Kapihan sa Baguio at the Philippine Information Agency premises are the departments of highways, environment, and the office of civil defense. This year’s Disaster Consciousness month has for its theme “Itaguyod ang kaunlaran ng bayan, kalamidad ay paghandaan.” # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
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	NORDIS WEEKLY July 16, 2006
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
DOH braces against diseases
BAGUIO CITY (June 28) — Despite an assurance that the country remains free from the avian-flu virus plaguing Asian countries, the Department of Health (DOH) is on a year-round preparedness against diseases with outbreak proportions, its regional officials disclosed in a Kapihan media forum here. Dr. Cherry Pekas of the DOH-Cordillera Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit attribute this to preventive measures like the creation of task forces up to the municipal levels. Preparedness in the health sector, according to Pekas, includes training local people on health and first aid; maintaining a stock pile of medicines and coordination with local government units. DOH-Cordillera’s Elnoria Bugnosen added that although Cordillera hospitals still register cases of meningococcemia, the deaths due to the disease dramatically dropped by 90% while the incidence dropped by 93%. In 2005 news of a meningococcemia outbreak in Baguio City had an adverse effect on tourism and business that prompted health officials to create an advisory body for official issuances on the disease. Bugnosen said that in Mountain Province, there are no reported cases in the last six months even as in Benguet there were two cases reported in the same period. Pekas and Bugnosen, however, urged the public to maintain optimum cleanness to prevent the breeding of disease-carrying insects such as flies and mosquitoes. Pekas observes that with the onset of the rainy season, dengue fever cases starts to mount. “Mas mataas ang dengue sa buwan ng July,” she told the forum. Pekas recounted how Sta. Scholastica barangay prevented the emergence of a dengue epidemic by cleaning the surroundings while health teams conducted an etymological survey. The DOH is among government agencies trying to increase public awareness on disaster preparedness through massive information dissemination. Among those in the weekly Kapihan sa Baguio at the Philippine Information Agency premises are the departments of highways, environment, and the office of civil defense. This year’s Disaster Consciousness month has for its theme “Itaguyod ang kaunlaran ng bayan, kalamidad ay paghandaan.” # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
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