Philippines - Health department warns vs overcrowding of evacuation centers

THE Department of Health (DOH) warned Tuesday against the overcrowding of evacuation centers since it is a situation conducive to spreading of diseases.

In a phone interview, Health Undersecretary Ted Herbosa reminded authorities to be on guard against congesting evacuation centers following the devastation of "Typhoon Pedring" in Luzon.

"If it is congested and one of the evacuees got sick, we can expect the others to also get sick," said Herbosa.

He noted that illnesses common in such scenarios include upper respiratory tract infection, measles and conjunctivitis and are likely to surface if an evacuation center is congested.

Aside from avoiding congestion, the health official added that comfort rooms should also be maintained properly to ensure the health of evacuees.

"We usually use schools as evacuation centers. For students, the comfort rooms may be enough but if you place families there, comfort rooms become a problem, either because there is not enough comfort rooms or they cannot keep these facilities clean," Herbosa said.

Meanwhile, the DOH office in the National Capital Region declared Tuesday a Code White Alert in all hospitals and health facilities in Metro Manila.

A Code White alert ensures the availability of emergency medicines and medical personnel in hospitals and health facilities to provide immediate health care service to casualties who will be injured during the course of a typhoon.

"All health facilities, hospitals, and offices in Metro Manila will be on Code White alert to provide assistance to residents who will be directly affected by typhoon," DOH Regional Director Eduardo Janairo said in a statement.

"I call on my fellow health workers to be prepared in their respective areas to take appropriate action and provide emergency assistance and related services to all residents who will be affected by the typhoon,” Janairo furthered.

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