'FOUR-mula' strengthens campaign vs. firecrackers

The regional office of the Department of Health has intensified its campaign in minimizing victims of firecrackers in Central Visayas through its "FOUR-mula Kontra Paputok" as part of the preparations for the New Year celebration.

From its previous campaign name "Oplan Iwas Paputok", under the leadership of Health Secretary Francisco Duque, it is changed to "FOUR-mula Kontra Paputok", but that the concept is still the same with that of the previous project.

DOH-7 director Susana Madarieta said the new campaign name focuses on four concerns as Filipinos celebrate for the ushering in of year 2007.

These four concerns include an urge for the public to use "torotot" (paper or cardboard trumpet/horn) and "tambol" (drum) instead of firecrackers; to never pick unbusted firecrackers; activate health centers and hospitals, and to never fire guns during the said celebration.

"Siguro nagkamenos ang nabiktima. I believe aware na ang mga tawo kun unsay mahitabo nila kun mogamit sila ug pabuto, posible maputol ang ilang kamot ug posible mamatay kun maigo sa stray bullet," Madarieta said.

Based on the DOH report last year, Central Visayas has a total of 179 victims of accidents brought about by firecrackers. Cebu city has the most number of blast victims with 99 cases.

Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue cities ranked next with 22 identical cases of blast victims, followed by Talisay City with 10 cases reported and eight cases for Consolacion.

In Central Visayas, a total of 17 cases wherein victims were amputated were registered. Most of the cases came from Cebu city with nine reported amputations.

Last year, three cases involving being hit by stray bullets from Cebu, Danao and Lapu-Lapu cities were recorded. - Ramil V. Ayuman/MEEV