Capitol conducts assessment in barangays hit by flooding

CEBU, Philippines - The Emergency Medical Services Team of the Cebu Provincial Health Office (CPHO) has conducted a Rapid Health Assessment last Tuesday in six landslide and flood-affected barangays in Liloan and Consolacion.

The local government of Liloan, through the Municipal Risk Reduction office, evacuated 86 accumulated families from affected barangays, namely, Yati, Cotcot and San Vicente, on Monday, 6 a.m. to Yati Elementary School.

The assessment team reported that only mobile network service is available in those barangays and electricity has been temporarily cut off for risk reduction. Water supply is available and main roads are passable.

CPHO officer and medical equipment technician Bryan Bote said that based on their assessment, there were no damages to offices in the barangay and all health facilities are functional.

"Prior to the evacuation, teams are deployed for evacuation and outpatient care is activated through the Municipal Health Office of Liloan. Food and water are readily available in the evacuation center during the operation," Bote said.

The Rapid Health Assessment by CPHO in Consolacion was conducted for evacuees from Barangay Nangka with 21 families, Barangay Cansaga with 51 families, and Barangay Pitogo with 53 families.

During the assessment in the affected barangays, the team found that the roads are only passable for two-wheeled vehicles, and while electricity is available, communication services are only available through mobile network, and water supply is available through level 1 source only.

The team also found that the local health offices still have adequate supply of medicines good for 15 days at least.

CPHO has confirmed that there has been no reported cases of serious diseases and cases of infection since Cebu province experienced heavy rainfall and flooding in the past two weeks.

CPHO Sanitarian James Cañete said that some diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, stomach flu and dengue are rampant during rainy seasons because of flooding, with dengue and diarrhea as the most common.

As of January 2017, PHO has recorded 232 cases of dengue, though none were reported during the typhoon and low pressure area experienced by Cebu province this week and last.

Meanwhile, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office spokesperson Julius Regner said that they are just continuously monitoring the landslide-prone areas and areas affected by floods.

"Let's stay alert at all times gihapon," Regner warned the public. "Dili na maghuwat sultian sa gobyerno. Kung naa mo sa peligro nga mga area, evacuate na dayun if ever naa na pud typhoon or low pressure (LPA)."

Regner confirmed that all evacuees in Liloan, Consolacion, and Mandaue City have returned to their homes yesterday after the rains and the flooding have subsided. (FREEMAN)