16k Zamboanga evacuees affected by various diseases

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona assured his support after the local health office here reported more than 16,000 of the evacuees in the evacuation center inside the sports stadium got sick from various illnesses.

Secretary Ona personally visited the evacuation center in Joaquin F. Enriquez Sports Complex and assessed the conditions of more than 40,000 evacuees, who have been staying in the complex more than a month now after the Zamboanga crisis.

Ona said the DOH has already placed on standby the needed medicines and personnel to assist the local health office here to address the various diseases and illnesses afflicting the evacuees.

Dr. Rodeline Agbulos, city health officer, said they have listed at least five common health problems, including acute respiratory ailment, diarrhea, skin disease, hypertension and measles.

He said they have listed 2,000 people, mostly children, suffering from diarrhea and 14,000 who were affected by other diseases.

Agbulos said his health team was conducting regular sanitation inspection and immunization for the children at the evacuation center.

Meanwhile, Ona also visited the Zamboanga City Medical Center to check on the damages incurred at the height of the gunbattle. 

The government hospital is just adjacent to Sitio Lustre, Barangay Sta. Catalina, an area that was devastated during the gunbattle. 

Ona said the hospital incurred minor damage and would be fully operationalized in the coming days.