Diarrhea downs 209 people in NCotabato town

PRESIDENT ROXAS, North Cotabato — At least 209 cases of diarrhea have been monitored in this town, prompting the local health office to deploy health personnel to prevent the water-borne disease from spreading further. Municipal health officer Dominic Laos, M.D., on Wednesday said most of the victims are residents of nine communities in Barangay (village) Poblacion. Laos said only nine of the reported 209 victims were brought to the nearby New Cebu District Hospital, while the rest are undergoing self-medications in their homes. Laos suspected the disease was caused by contaminated water, particularly coming from the Greenhills and Noah reservoirs, after torrential rains poured in North Cotabato in the past few days. Health personnel were dispatched to Barangay Poblacion to conduct orientation in affected areas to prevent the spread of the disease to adjacent communities and villages, Laos said. "We also took water samples... and brought them to Davao City for examination...," he said, adding he has already ordered the distribution of medicines, chlorine and water containers to the affected residents. "We advised them to boil their water and store it in clean water containers before drinking," he said. He also urged residents to visit the health office at once if they experience loose bowel movement and stomach ache. The local water utility in the area also conducted water flashing in reservoirs to make sure that water being supplied to Barangay Poblacion and other villages is safe for human use. A(H1N1) vaccination In Kidapawan City, the local health office is strengthening its campaign against A(H1N1), commonly known as swine-flu virus, by giving free vaccination to pregnant women in 40 villages there. Michele Canlas, the city health nurse and in-charge of A(H1N1) vaccination, said a total of 94 pregnant women from 10 villages have already had their shots since the program started last Monday. Canlas said pregnant women, especially those who are four months pregnant, are compelled to get vaccinated. "We call on pregnant women to visit our city health office every Thursday to avail the free A(H1N1) vaccine," Canlas said. — Williamor A. Magbanua/LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV