• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Acute respiratory infection and other illnesses have been reported among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, according to the report of the Department of Health-Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR).
At least 74 acute respiratory infection cases topped the list of leading causes of consultation as of Jan. 5.
Also reported were 71 other illnesses, which were not specified in the DOH-NIR report, which listed 4,113 evacuees who have availed of medical consultations.
DOH has deployed six doctors, 43 nurses, 14 technical staff and 77 medical personnel to attend to the health issues of the IDPs in 32 evacuation centers in La Castellana town, cities of Bago, La Carlota and San Carlos in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
A total of 4,360 families, composed of 14, 235 individuals, are presently staying in the various evacuation centers.
DOH-NIR also reported that it has distributed 135,329 assorted medicines; 87,200 N15 masks; 48,500 faces masks; 17,000 aquatabs; 1,910 surgical gloves; 1,850 goggles; and 349 nebulizer kits to the IDPs.
Commodities distribution will continue to increase, following the arrival of augmented aid from other regions, it added.
Following the explosive eruption on Dec. 9, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the volcano’s alert level to 3, indicating that “magmatic eruption has begun and may progress to further explosive eruptions”.
Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol, in an interview with government station PTV on Saturday (Jan. 4), said that the rise and decrease of sulfur dioxide of Mt. Kanlaon is a sign that it may be gearing up for a bigger and maybe a deadly eruption.
In a report on Jan. 5, Phivolcs said it logged an ash emission, which lasted for 111 minutes and 23 volcanic quakes, including three volcanic tremors, as well as emission of 3,469 tons of sulfur dioxide.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Sunday (Jan. 5) reiterated his call for prayers among the Negrenses .
“Not knowing when it will happen and will it be the last eruption? I continue to ask everyone to pray for divine intervention,” he said. | GB
