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Antique health office intensifies disease surveillance activities
by EA Abasquez

San Jose, Antique (2 July 2008) -- Disease surveillance activities have been intensified provincewide following onslaughts of typhoon Frank, especially in evacuation centers where source of potable water supply has been affected and the sanitary environmental conditions would likely occur due to over congestion in living quarters.

Provincial Health Officer In Charge Dante Debit said among barangays hardest hit by the recent calamity were San Pedro in San Jose, the capital town, barangays Bugo, Bagumbayan, San Rafael, Trinidad, Sitio Durog- Iguirindon and Cadolonan in San Remigio and Minoro-Tica in Bugasong, the source said.

A total of 343 barangays, 25,883 families and 35,652 persons were reportedly affected, DSWD/PDCC data showed.

Nebit has enjoined affected families to boil their drinking water if they are in doubt of water source/supply. Affected residents were likewise oriented on the chlorination process to treat their drinking water, the source pointed out.

Observance of personal/community hygiene, including the use of sanitary toilets to combat spread of diseases have been part of surveillance and health advocacy, Nebit explained.
PHO forewarned the affected sectors and individuals to refrain from consuming contaminated food especially coming from drowned animals to avoid food poisoning.

Likewise, school buildings used as evacuation centers are thoroughly sanitized to make classroom conducive to learning and to safeguard the health of pupils, students and teachers.

Nebit further pointed out that disease surveillance, vaccination/immunization for measles, oral polio vaccines (OPV), vitamin A for children 6 months to five years old and distribution of sodium hypochlorite for water treatment have been sustained to ward off disease outbreak.

The personnel fromDOH-Central Office - National Epidemiology Center came over last June 26 to assist the Provincial Health Office in disease surveillance activities. So far no disease outbreak has been monitored or reported in the province, Nebit concluded. (PIA)

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