• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Health-Western Visayas (DOH-Region 6) has issued an advisory urging hospitals and health facilities to take necessary measures to prepare and ensure resilience in anticipation of the effects of El Niño phenomenon.
It has also reminded the public of the possible effects of the weather phenomenon as well as the mitigating measures that can be done to lessen its effects on the human body and to the community.
DOH-6 warned the disruption of health services due to increase in number of admissions, rotational brownouts and disruption of water services, increase in cases or the exacerbation of non- communicable diseases patients, with existing hypertension, diabetes or respiratory diseases as well as dengue, typhoid and leptospirosis, food and water diseases, heat-related illnesses and respiratory skin diseases.
It also suggested to limit exposure to excessive heat, ensure that use of water for drinking and household is clean, maintain personal hygiene, hydrate well, vaccinate, and seek early consultation if not feeling well.
DOH-6 further said that it is continuously coordinating with other national government agencies to foresee the effects of El Niño, not just on the environment, but also in other sectors such as agriculture and health. | GB
