MASANTOL, Pampanga ,Philippines – At least 20 children here were rushed to hospitals in Pampanga and Bulacan over the weekend due to severe diarrhea after they drank water from deep wells found positive with coliform bacteria and E. coli.
A team from the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), assisted by the Maynilad Water central office, declared water from deep wells in eight barangays here unfit for human consumption.
The wells are located in Barangays Nigui, Alauli, Sagrada Familia, Bagang, Balibago, Baco, Iscundo and Sapang Kawayan.
The severe diarrhea cases were discovered by the PMA as they launch the “Doctors on Boats” project to be able to reach families still isolated by flooding in Pampanga.
On board several boats, the PMA doctor-volunteers braved the floods here last Saturday and Sunday and were able to provide medical and psycho-social services to some 3,000 families.
Meanwhile, Gov. Lilia Pineda has instructed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Provincial Health Office to coordinate with municipal officials and extend all support to provide residents with safe drinking water and contain the contamination of the wells.