DOH warns public vs swimming in oil spill affected areas

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) is warning the public not to go swimming in beaches at the east coast of Cebu Province following the oil spill caused by the sinking of MV St. Thomas Aquinas.

DOH 7 Director Asuncion Anden said the ingestion of the oil spill can cause diseases leukemia, inhalation difficulty, cancer and poisoning due to toxic chemicals and heavy metals.

DOH is also recommends that technical divers and those who are helping contain the oil spill should wear proper equipment such as gloves and boots.

“Let us take precaution especially when we are near the coastal line. The livelihood at the coast is now severely affected,” Anden said.

DOH has also asked the owners of the passenger vessel to plug the holes to prevent further spilling of the oil and siphon the remaining oil in the tanks.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) is urging the public to go to the nearest health centers for free medication on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD). NTDs are prevalent parasitic diseases which have received little attention from global health policy makers and donors.

Out of the 17 NTD described by the World Health Organization (WHO), the DOH has identified six diseases prevalent in the country – lymphatic filariasis or a parasitic infection transmitted by female mosquitoes, schistosomiasis or snail fever, leprosy, food borne parasitic diseases, soil transmitted herminthasis or intestinal worms and rabies.

This was revealed by DOH Assistant Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial yesterday at the Second National NTD Stakeholders Forum.

DOH recently received a P500 million budget for the procurement of NTD medications and services for health centers all over the country. They also have received donated drugs from large pharmaceutical companies.

However, not everybody is aware of the free services that the DOH is giving against NTDs. In earlier reports, DOH tapped the Department of Education (DepEd) to conduct mass deworming on school children but some parents are hesitant.

“There are other diseases that still possess public health threat. These diseases are causing unnecessary public suffering. However, these could be effectively eliminated and controlled from the face of the Philippines.” Ubial said.

WHO representative Jun Nakagawa from Japan said that NTD is affecting the Philippine’s population greatly and would create a negative impact if we don’t act on it now.

“It is giving a long term socio-economic impact on your country. Health is everybody’s business,” Nakagawa said.

DOH is also pushing for mass treatment side by side with DepEd and the academe to put a stop on NTDs to school children. (FREEMAN)