DOH conducts final assessment of perennial cholera-prone Catanduanes

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 5 (PNA) –- A team led by Dr. Eric Tayag, Department of Health (DOH) assistant secretary and chief of the National Epidemiology Center (NEC), left for Catanduanes Tuesday morning via the ferry services at Tabaco City International Port to conduct assessment of the preparedness in managing perennial occurrence of cholera epidemic in the island. The top goal of the visit is to establish for the country a model local government unit (LGU) in responding to outbreak of cholera and prevention programs to eradicate widespread recurrence of the disease. Records show that there are only two areas in the Philippines known for a province-wide outbreak of the disease--Catanduanes and Pangasinan--but the former has been considered the worst hit and more prone to recurrence of cholera epidemic. Catanduanes last year was considered by DOH to have a year-round cholera epidemic when it recorded a total of 2,391 suspected cases, of which 16 patients died starting January until the last quarter of 2012. The province-wide epidemic was discovered in the health surveillance conducted to have started from the capital town of Virac and peaked during the month of June, with a total of 826 persons afflicted by the disease. Tayag said the DOH central and Bicol regional offices last year fielded teams to Catanduanes to assist local health officials in managing response to and prevention of the spread of the disease. The widespread epidemic started to wane from the month of October. Tayag confirmed the DOH central office’s provision of supplies for massive water treatment in Catanduanes along with the regional office’s constant follow through of prevention programs in the island last year. “We are to assess what happened after that? We are after the results so we will know if the LGU can handle it alone or with less assistance from the DOH or if it needs further intervention as to supplies, funding and technology and skills transfer in all efforts to eradicate the disease,” Tayag said. Since cholera is both a water- and food-borne infection, the assessment team will also look into the programs on monitoring and conduct of hygienic trainings on food handlers by the local health offices in Catanduanes for restaurant and hotel personnel and on street food vendors, said Gloria Balboa, DOH Bicol director. “Efficient health services can’t wait. We have to work with whoever is presently in the various elective positions in the island. Ours is a long-term intervention for the benefit of the whole of Catanduanes without any favor to or from any politician,” Tayag said in relation to the upcoming local elections. “We will keep on coming back to Catanduanes until such time that the preventive programs are in place at sustainable degrees as ordered by Asec. Tayag,” Balboa also said.(PNA) LAP/FGS/ALV/MMG/UTB