DOH: Donate to ‘Seniang’ victims instead of buying firecrackers

Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin. CATHY MIRANDA/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Health on Wednesday urged the public to donate the money they intend to use to buy firecrackers to the victims of tropical depression “Seniang” which heavily hit parts of Visayas and Mindanao.

“Instead of buying firecrackers, let us all donate that (money to buy fireworks), to the victims of calamities brought upon by Seniang. The holiday spirit of many of our fellow countrymen has been dampened by the loss of lives, property and livelihood,” Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin said in a statement.

Garin added that the money allotted for fireworks “will go a long way” if it will be given to Seniang victims.

Seniang left 53 people dead as it lashed parts of Visayas and Mindanao.

‘It is your own doing’

Meanwhile, DOH cautioned “active users” of fireworks who will be injured amid the New Year revelry on Wednesday night to brace themselves for expensive hospital fees as their injuries are “of their own doing.”

“It is not an accident, it is of your own doing. Kung kayang makabili ng paputok, kayang bumili ng gamot (If you can buy fireworks, you can also buy your medicines),” Garin said in a press conference.

DOH officials estimated that victims of fireworks-related injuries willneed to shell out at least five thousand pesos in a government-run hospital to treat their injuries.

According to the latest tally of fireworks-related injuries collated by the DOH from December 21-31, 176 cases have been recorded.

A total of 122 in these cases of fireworks-related injuries have been caused by the prohibit firecracker called “piccolo.”