DOH to public: Think about Sendong victims, not firecrackers, this New Year

The Department of Health is urging the public to remember the hundreds of families displaced by tropical storm Sendong in certain areas in Mindanao and Visayas before they spend their money on firecrackers for the New Year celebration. Saying that their acts of charity may save their lives, if not their fingers or limbs, Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona suggested that money already budgeted for firecrackers should instead be channeled to the ongoing relief and rehabilitation drive to assist residents of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities and other areas devastated by the storm. “The Department of Health is doing its best in tending to those devastated by Sendong. We are calling on everyone to join us in our efforts. What a better way to celebrate Christmas than by sharing what we have and giving hope to our countrymen who need it most,” Ona said. “Every contribution is a big help to our efforts … The money that we have allotted for firecrackers can be donated to the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts for the victims of Typhoon Sendong,” added Ona, who visited evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan cities last Tuesday. According to Health Undersecretary Teodoro J. Herbosa, the government spends at least P10 million annually for the direct and hidden cost of acute care services for firecracker-related injuries, stray-bullet injuries, and treatment of fireworks ingestion in public health facilities during the Dec. 21-Jan. 5 surveillance period. “There is also a tremendous economic loss to a victim who has a finger amputated, lost a limb, or a patient who is blinded,” said Herbosa, a trauma surgeon and a health emergency management expert. Skipping the lighting of firecrackers this coming New Year’s Eve and contributing to the national and international actions to help the Sendong victims “will ensure that that we usher in the New Year free from harm and with a deep sense of fulfillment,” said Ona, alluding to the DOH anti-firecrackers campaign labeled Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction (Celebrate Christmas and New Year Safely). Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Philippines, estimated that 471,000 people in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan urgently need “immediate life-saving assistance” such as clean water for drinking and bathing, food, emergency shelter, and essential household items. “In the Philippines, this is the most festive time of the year when families come together and celebrate life. Please extend your support to those who have been deprived of this traditional celebration. Your contribution can make a difference,” Soe told reporters when he visited the two cities on Dec. 20-21. As part of its annual anti-firecrackers surveillance, the DOH has started monitoring firecracker-related injuries, stray-bullet injuries, and fireworks ingestion incidents since Wednesday. The monitoring will last until Jan. 5 next year. From Dec. 21, 2010 to Jan. 5, 2011, the DOH reported 972 cases of fireworks-related injuries, 39 cases of stray-bullet injuries, and 11 cases of fireworks ingestion, one of which led to death. The data came from 51 select government health facilities called “sentinel hospitals.” Of the 972 cases, the 1-10 years old age group was hardest hit, with 330 cases. Also of the 972 cases, 773 were males; 580 cases were active users; 768 cases resulted to blast or burns without amputation; 57 cases with blast or burns with amputation; and 141 cases with eye injuries. The DOH has launched the Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction campaign to reduce and prevent firecracker-related injuries in the coming New Year revelries. During the launch, Ona reminded the public that firecrackers and fireworks cause injuries and endanger health, children should not use any fireworks, people should stay away from exploding fireworks, never pick up spent fireworks, and seek immediate medical treatment for all firework injuries. The health chief also advised the public to be conscious of their food-intake and activities during the Christmas and New Year festivities to prevent and control lifestyle-related diseases such cardio-vascular diseases, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and diabetis mellitus, the four major non-communicable diseases in the country at present. The four major diseases are also linked by four most common and preventable risk factors related to lifestyle such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and alcohol use, Ona added. — KBK, GMA News