Davao City taps village officials vs H1N1 virus

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The city government has tapped officials of 180 barangays to help in the prevention and surveillance of possible H1N1 virus cases.

City administrator Wendel Avisado said a newly created local task force against the H1N1 virus has come up with mechanisms on how to address the situation.

Avisado said barangay officials and health workers underwent orientation on the H1N1 virus and were given pointers on how to prevent it to be disseminated to residents.

He said barangay officials will also be tapped to monitor any possible H1N1 cases in their respective communities.

“There is no one who could effectively monitor such cases except the barangay officials who know their constituents,” he said.

Dr. Leopoldo Vega, administrator of the Davao Medical Center, however, said there have been no cases so far.

The hospital has readied its isolation rooms for suspected cases of the dreaded H1N1 virus.

Vega said the isolation rooms are housed in a separate building from the main hospital inside the Davao Medical Center complex.

“We have already prepared the rooms and the staff for isolation if ever there would be suspected cases of the (H1N1 virus) here,” he said.

The isolation rooms were readied, too, for possible SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) cases in 2006, although no such cases were reported in the region then.

Vega said they are closely coordinating with the Bureau of Quarantine, especially if suspected cases are detected by the thermal scanner at the Davao International Airport.

Similar arrangements are also in place in various seaports in Southern Mindanao.

“We have also prepared the necessary medicine for treatment as supplied by the Department of Health,” Vega said. – Edith Regalado