In Alegria, 1st typhoid fatality

CEBU, Philippines - The typhoid fever afflicting several residents in the southern town of Alegria has already claimed one while several others remain in the hospital.

Letecia Guardiario, 20, of sitio Kanlaob, Barangay Compos-tela, died of the infection two days after she was confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in July 18.Integrated Provincial Health Office chief nurse Rose Jao confirmed that Guardiario died of typhoid fever after verification from the VSMMC.

Abdon Guardiario, victim’s husband, said they get their potable water directly from a spring. Jao said most of the patients suspected of typhoid cases are also drinking water direct from the spring.

IPHO personnel yesterday conducted a medical check up on more than a hundred patients and distributed medicines and relief goods to 149 patients in Barangay Valencia where most of the patients came from.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn handed over P5,000 cash assistance to the family of Guardiario.

On top of it, the Capitol also paid for the hospital expenses amounting to P6,000. The San Fernando Funeral Parlor provided free casket for Guardiario.

Hours before Garcia arrived to distribute financial assistance and medicines in Barangay Valencia, her political rival in the last elections, Hilario Davide III and Engr. Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero, daughter of the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr., were also distributing medicines, goods and Lacto-Pafi drinks in sitio Inghoy of the said barangay.

Medicines were left at Inghoy Health Center, Reinhard Hospital in Alegria and Badian District Hospital.

IPHO and Provincial Engineering’s Office personnel yesterday checked on the water sources and found out that the water supply was not properly chlorinated.

The team found out that the chlorine has not reached to the distribution pipeline.

This means that there is no enough chlorine at the chlorinator despite being functional.

Valencia Barangay Captain Flora Amatril said that the owner of a fishpond nearby has opposed the chlorination of their water source allegedly to prevent fishkill.

Garcia has advised Mayor Emelita Guisadio and Amatril to invoke the general welfare provision of the Local Government Code to ensure the safety of their constituents.

Garcia directed the barangay officials to advise their residents to boil their water before drinking pending the result of the examination. — THE FREEMAN