8 babies delivered at Mayon evacuation centers

LEGAZPI CITY — At least eight babies have been delivered at different evacuation centers in Albay since Mayon volcano started erupting last June 24, health department officials said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Dr. Veronica Madulid, Albay provincial health officer, told reporters the two reported cases of dengue in Legazpi City and Daraga town occurred outside the evacuation centers.

Madulid also denied a television news report that 44,497 evacuees are already suffering from H-fever.

Madulid said 280 evacuees complained of acute respiratory infection, followed by headache, 66; fever, 37; flu, 36; skin diseases, 36; and 29 refugees suffering from asthma.

Madulid said the provincial health office has already constructed 33 toilets in the various evacuation centers, while the Department of Public Works and Highways had built a four-seat toilet at the Manuel Rafola Memorial School, Guinobatan East Central School, Tuburan Evacuation Center, and the Malilipot Central School.

However, teachers and students of public elementary and high schools being used as temporary housing have complained that evacuees have left their classrooms in unsanitary condition.

School officials, who had requested anonymity, said the foul smell of "human wastes" has pervaded throughout their campuses because the temporary comfort rooms could no longer accommodate the growing number of evacuees.

The officials said the "wastes" are from the children of evacuees, who could no longer look after them because they return to their homes and farms during the day.

The officials said the students could no longer focus on their lessons because of the "unpleasant odor" coming from outside the classrooms.

Some students told The STAR yesterday they have been cutting classes to avoid the "bad smell" that has permeated every corner of the school grounds and classrooms.

Most evacuation centers are in Legazpi City because temporary housing in towns and cities around Mayon volcano had already been filled with evacuees.

But Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit assured the evacuees yesterday there is no cause for alarm on the condition of displaced families, who are cramped in temporary housing in public schools in Albay.

"No outbreak of any disease has been monitored and additional health workers continue to arrive at evacuation centers to render medical aid," he said.

"They are working round-the-clock to prevent any untoward incident," he added.

However, Dayrit warned that overcrowding in temporary centers may cause diarrhea among evacuees, as well as cholera, typhoid fever and hepatitis-A if sanitation remains unchecked.

Dayrit said volcanic ash may cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, cough with phlegm and difficulty in breathing, and severe injury in the windpipe or swelling in the lungs that may cause death in cases of very high concentration of ash.

Dayrit advised evacuees to stay indoors, wear a mask, or place a moist cloth in their mouth and nose if they need to go out into the streets.

Dayrit urged anyone suffering from respiratory ailment to immediately see a doctor so his condition can be diagnosed and the proper cure given to him.

Dayrit said evacuees should boil water or drop purifying tablets into it before drinking, and wash their hands before eating, especially after using the toilet. – Celso Amo, Cet Dematera, Ella Oducayen