- GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) is deploying additional health care personnel at the evacuation centers in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, following the deaths of two infants in the past two months.
Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan, provincial health officer, said on Friday (Jan. 31) that personnel of the PHO, Municipal Health Office and Department of Health-Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) will have their respective duty schedules to ensure a round-the-clock monitoring of the health of evacuees.
A nine-month-old boy died at a hospital on Jan. 25 due to community acquired pneumonia.
Last month, another nine-month-old boy succumbed to cardiopulmonary arrest due to acute gastroenteritis with severe dehydration.
Pinongan acknowledged that some evacuation centers are congested, which could trigger the spread of infectious diseases.
The augmentation of health personnel in the evacuation centers is also aimed at addressing immediate solution to the health needs of the internally displaced persons.
At present, the DOH-NIR deploys a total of 140 doctors, nurses, medical and technical staff in 18 evacuation centers.
As of Jan. 29, the top leading causes of consultations were acute respiratory infection – 29; hypertension – 12; and acute watery diarrhea – 3. | GB
