Manila gov’t, Maynilad go house-to-house

The Manila Health Department and Maynilad Water Services Inc. are conducting house-to-house inspection in Tondo to pinpoint the main source of the alleged water contamination, which resulted in the death of four persons and the hospitalization of 300 others two weeks ago.

Although authorities have blamed the contamination to leaking pipes, illegal connections and ongoing road work in the area, the city government and the water concessionaire want to get to the bottom of the health crisis.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said that the city government is prioritizing the prevention and treatment of patients in affected areas in Tondo, adding that although the spread of the disease has been contained, authorities are not taking any chances.

"Our priority right now is to find where the contamination is actually coming from so as to stop further occurrences of gastroenteritis. Our health personnel, accompanied by personnel of Maynilad, are already going to the houses of all the victims to conduct inspections. This would enable us to really pinpoint where the contamination is coming from," Atienza explained.

He said that while the city government is already conducting an investigation as to how the contamination occurred and pinpoint liability, the priority continues to be treatment of the victims and prevention of further occurrences of gastroenteritis.

Aside from the health department, the Manila Barangay Bureau and barangay officials in the affected area are conducting an information and education campaign to help prevent the spread of gastroenteritis.

Residents in the affected area have been advised not to drink water from the faucet directly and instead boil it for 30 minutes.

Although water tanks and water lines in public schools have been flushed and disinfected, bottles of mineral or purified water are still being supplied in schools to prevent any outbreak.

At the same time, medicine and all the necessary supplies, including water purification tablets, intravenous fluids, injectable garamycin, ampicilin and paracetamol are now in stock at city-managed hospitals and health clinics to ensure that everyone is treated in case of another outbreak.

Dr. Florante Baltazar, chief of the Manila Health Department, said health personnel are still in the process of analyzing samples, including saliva and stool taken from the persons suffering from gastroenteritis.

Baltazar, however, could not say when the health department would conclude its investigation, which intend to establish the source of contaminants.

Retired Col. Ernesto Dionisio, Manila City Administrator and former councilor, has been tasked by Atienza to oversee and coordinate all the measures that are being implemented and would be implemented to ensure that the city government is able to manage any situation that may arise. — Cecille Suerte Felipe