Typhoon round up

DOH monitoring health of typhoon victims

THE Department of Health (DOH) in region 7 said typhoon survivors are being treated for respiratory ailments, diarrhea, skin infections and other diseases in the past few weeks.

Dr. Lakshmi Legaspi, DOH asst. regional director, said the victims are vulnerable due to poor sanitation, dismal conditions and changing weather.

The DOH treated and examined 19,013 typhoon victims. Of that number, 7,327 cases suffered acute respiratory infections and 3,833 cases had open wounds and bruises.

There were also 1,633 people with fever, 1,200 cases of hypertension, 773 cases of skin diseases and 506 cases of diarrhea. Dr. Legaspi said the diarrhea cases are manageable.

They are also monitoring the chlorine treatment of water sources in Bogo City and Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remegio, Tabogon, and Tabuelan towns.

There are 14 Rural Health Units (RHUs) that were affected by supertyphoon Yolanda with no schedule set for their repair. /Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag

City Hall turns over evac centers to DSWD

CEBU City Hall turned over management of the two remaining evacuation centers in the city housing survivors of typhoon-hit areas in eastern Visayas to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday.

“Since the start, the city government has been one of the camp managers of the centers.

But since yesterday, the DSWD has pulled out from managing the centers,” City Social Welfare Officer Ester Concha said.

The Cebu City government still holds the master list and log book of all the evacuees that were housed in the city’s evacuation centers.

Concha said there are less than 350 persons in both evacuation centers in barangays Tinago and Cogon Ramos. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama questioned the turnover.

“It started with their (DSWD’s) request for a venue in the city and we’ve given it to them. What was turned over? Food? Things? Basin paninglan ta ana (They might be asking that from us),” Rama said.

Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera earlier expressed dismay over what he said was the arrogant behavior of DSWD’s social workers assigned in the barangay.

“The food packs we gave to the people in the center were all from the private sector,” Garganera said.

But he said the DSWD provided them with a sack of rice, two boxes of sardines, cooking pots, gas burner and some mats and pillows.

DSWD Asst. Regional Director Marcial Fernandez apologized to Garganera when they were both speakers at a forum last week.

Concha said there were a lot of aid pledges from the private sector and both the DSWD and City Hall’s Social Welfare Office were on standby to provide the food for the victims. Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita