(Image courtesy of DOH)
MANILA, Philippines — The number of reported fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) for surveillance year 2023, or the period from December 21, 2023 to January 5, 2024 is now at 231, and is expected to rise on the coming days, according to the health department.
“Although hindi pa nga kami tapos sa count, baka tumaas pa ‘yan. I can tell you ito [ay] mas mataas kaysa last year pero tandaan natin last year, mayroon pang public health emergency status ang ating bansa,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said on Monday.
(Although we are not done with the count yet, it might increase. I can tell you this [is] higher than last year, but let’s remember that last year, our country still had a public health emergency status.)
Herbosa was referring to the 307 FWRIs recorded from December 21, 2022, to January 5, 2023.
Meantime, from December 31, 2023, to January 1, 2024, 116 FWRIs cases logged, a significant drip from the 235 cases recorded from December 21, 2022 to January 5, 2023.