• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) has placed public hospitals and health facilities on “Code White” alert to ensure their readiness to respond to any potential health emergencies.
Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan, provincial health officer, said yesterday that government hospitals will be ready to accept patients who might be affected by the floods, particularly those in southern Negros.
Pinongan advised those living in flood-prone and low-lying areas to evacuate, if there is imminent flooding, which also causes water-borne diseases such as leptospirosis, gastroenteritis, among others.
The PHO chief also encouraged those wading in floodwater to take doxycycline to avoid being infected by leptospirosis.
In the highly-urbanized Bacolod City, the City Health Office (CHO) recorded six deaths related to leptospirosis from January to July 5 this year.
Leptospirosis cases have risen to 14 cases, compared to only eight last year, registering an increase of 75 percent, the CHO report showed. | GB
