by Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY, FEB. 2(PIA)--- The Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Health Office will conduct a medical outreach in Sindangan and Leon Postigo on Monday, February 6, 2012.
Mr. Rommel Jamolod, Nurse III of the Zamboanga del Norte-PHO said the outreach will be conducted in Barangay Bucana, Sindangan and Titik in Leon Postigo, two of barangays severely affected by the recent gastroenteritis outbreak that hit the two municipalities.
Jamolod said the Provincial Medical Team together with the personnel from the Department will conduct water treatment on the potable water in the area to ensure the safety of the residence in the area.
Momentarily, local residents are advised to boil their drinking water as it had been suspected to be the cause of the diarrhea.
“18 patients had been admitted at the Sindangan District Hospital, with the transportation support from the 10th Infantry Battalion. However said patients were already discharged from the hospital after given proper medication,” Jamolod said.
Jamolod also confirmed the death of four (4) individuals during occurrence of the outbreak. However, he pointed out that the death one victim was not due gastroenteritis, while the death of the other 3 victims could not also be ascertained to have been caused by gastroenteritis as they have died days before the outbreak was confirmed and never been referred to any health personnel.
It maybe recalled that after the outbreak was reported on January 25, Governor Rolando E. Yebes, immediately ordered the Provincial Health Office to send medical team to the area and investigate the reported diarrhea outbreak.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Eduardo Luayon , thus ordered the immediate provision of the necessary medicine to Sindangan Rural Health Unit for the diarrhea victims.
These include 9 boxes of dextrose, 144 bottles of cotrimoxasole and 10 boxes of oresol in sachets.
The PHO-Zanorte was also able to get some medicines from DOH-IX like oral dehydrations solutions and dextrose which were formally turned-over to Sindangang Rural Health Unit and Sindangan District Hospital last Friday.
The Provincial Welfare and Development Office, on the hand, also provided rice and sardines to some 150 affected families. (ATR-PIA9-Zambo Norte)
