DOH shifts focus to public health

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) is now giving attention to public health and intensifying the vaccination programs in areas that Typhoon Yolanda had devastated.

In a statement, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said epidemics are threatening the devastated communities, which still have no access to safe water, sanitation facilities, vector control and emergency and basic services.

“Although there are still no outbreaks recorded, we instructed the newly deployed replacement teams to step up measles, tetanus, oral polio and rabies vaccinations in all evacuation centers,” he said.

The DOH had mapped out plans for the rebuilding or rehabilitation of destroyed or damaged health facilities, he added.

Ona asked the private sector and non-government organizations to offer resources and personnel to deal with serious gaps in infrastructure, equipment and manpower requirements under the concept of “adopt-a-hospital.”

“This adopt-a-hospital campaign, at least during the holidays, is one way our private sector partners can spread the Christmas spirit,” he said. “We hope to see more hospital partnerships as rehabilitation of health facilities continues.”

Ona said some hospitals in Yolanda-devastated areas are now operational to accommodate pregnant women.

“There should be extra efforts  for pregnant women to know their due date,” he said.

“There’s still problem with communication. So you must know when you are due to give birth and then go to an existing healthcare facility in advance.” 

More difficulty

Undersecretary Jude Esguerra of the National Anti-Poverty Commission believes Yolanda-devastated areas would have more difficulty recovering than those Typhoon Ondoy  ravaged in 2009 because they belong to the third poorest region in the country.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Esguerra said Eastern Visayas has an average poverty incidence of 37 percent.

The region is next only to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Northern Mindanao in terms of poverty, he added.

Esguerra said the areas in Metro Manila that Ondoy had devastated have an average poverty incidence of less than five percent.

Esguerra said the areas that Yolanda devastated are highly dependent on copra and fisheries, and that indicators show many coconut trees and boats have been damaged. – With  Reinir Padua, Evelyn Macairan