33 Dead as DOH-8 Declares Diarrhea Outbreak in Samar
By: Lottie Salarda, InterAksyon.com
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health Regional Office 8 has declared a diarrhea outbreak in Catbalogan City, and Calbiga and Sta. Rita towns in the province of Western Samar.
As of June 9, the agency has recorded 2,947 cases of diarrhea with 33 deaths. Aside from the three municipalities, the DOH-8 is also monitoring three towns in the second district of Samar and two towns in the 1st district of Samar.
The agency is also monitoring a town in Northern Samar where the same situation was tracked.
It released Friday an advisory on how to prevent diarrhea.
Health station in Brgy. Borseth
Meanwhile, in Brgy. Borseth in Alang-alang town Leyte, the Barangay Health Workers confirmed that they have five cases of diarrhea in their barangay. They referred the patients to the Rural Health Unit for proper medication since their barangay does not have enough medicine to cure the health problem.
The new Barangay Health Station and birthing clinic built by AmeriCares in their place was a blessing, according to Chairman Joel Salazar. The typhoon-resilient facility can stand 365 kph winds. Aside from Barangay Borseth, seven neighboring villages can also benefit the health services provided by the health station.
AmeriCares, aside from the structure, donated equipment that in all amounts to P2 million.
Midwife Maria Aurora Apurillo said that because Barangay Borseth already has a birthing clinic; pregnant women will be encouraged to have their prenatal check-up, as the RHU is 8 kilometers away from the barangay.
The village has 413 households with a total population of 2, 113.
According to AmeriCares Country Director Paul Gwyn L. Pagaran, they chose Borseth because of the request of the community to have a health station and birthing clinic.
AmeriCares, which has built 83 barangay health stations in Regions 6, 7 and 8, is an emergency response and global health organization committed to saving lives and building healthier futures for people in crisis in the United States and around the world. Since it was established, AmeriCares has delivered more than $12 billion in humanitarian aid to 164 countries, including United States.
(Source: InterAksyon.com)