Yolanda damages P27M worth of health facilities

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health-7 yesterday reported that an estimated P27 million worth of health facilities were damaged by Typhoon Yolanda in Northern Cebu.

DOH-7 assistant regional director Lakshmi Legaspi said these facilities included 16 Regional Health Units, 42 Barangay Health Units and two hospitals.

During a press briefing at the Benito Ebuen Airbase MIP Lounge, Legaspi said that 52 of these facilities sustained minor damages while eight were completely damaged.

"However, this is just an estimate kay ongoing pa ang assessment kung pila gyud ang damaged sa mga health facilities," Legaspi said.

She said that a day after the typhoon, they had started to treat typhoon victims inflicted with diseases.

These diseases were acute respiratory disease (7,327 cases), open wounds (3,833 cases), fever (1,633 cases), high blood pressure (1,200 cases), skin diseases (773) and diarrhea (566 cases).

Aside from this, DOH-7 also conducted mass vaccination among children in affected areas.

A total of 16,727 children were vaccinated against measles, 17,748 against polio, 9,954 were given vitamin A and 176 were de-wormed.

"We have to vaccinate them kay kuyaw magka outbreak niya og measles," said Legaspi, who assured that they have enough medicine supplies for vaccination.

The DOH and the Provincial Health Districts joined forces in conducting mass immunization in Northern Cebu. As of December 7, at least 44,603 residents were vaccinated.

Residents of the municipalities of Bantayan, Madridejos, Sta. Fe, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remegio, Sogod, San Francisco, Pilar, Poro, Tudela, Tabuelan, Tabogon and the city of Bogo have already received vaccination.

There are seven teams doing mass immunization in Northern Cebu.

Meanwhile, DOH-7 personnel are coordinating with foreign relief missions and the World Health Organization staff in helping typhoon victims in Ormoc City.

According to Harvey Durangparang, of DOH-7, Ormoc City residents are slowly recovering from the disaster.

"Naghinay-hinay na sila og kuan (balik) sa ilang normal life" (They are slowly recovering from their normal life), said Durangparang.  (FREEMAN)