Butuan City health office warns public vs
'chikungunya'
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) -- The city health
office here has warned the public of a new virus where the affected patient
will have the same signs and symptoms of a dengue victim.
Speaking before the council members of the City
Peace and Order Council (CPOC), Michelle Mae Que, a resident nurse of the city
health office said “chikungunya” is a relatively rare form of viral fever.
Que pointed out that same with dengue fever,
this is transmitted by “Aedes aegypti,” “albopictus,” “Culex,” and “Mansonia”
species.
“Among the symptoms include: fever of up to 39
degrees Celsius, macupapular rash, arthritis, and headache,” Que said.
Que said this can be detected using antigens or
antibodies in the blood using Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assays (Elisa) or
polymerase chain reaction tests.
According to World Health Organization (WHO)
Media Centre, Elisa may confirm the presence of IgM and IgG anti-chikungunya
antibodies. IgM antibody levels are highest three to five weeks after the onset
of illness and persist for about two months.
The official further said there is no active
treatment, “only symptomatic treatment, self-limiting… however, there is no
marketable vaccines available as of the moment,” Que explained.
According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease first described during an
outbreak in southern Tanzania in 1952.
It is an alphavirus of the family Togaviridae.
The name chikungunya is derived from a root verb in the Kimakonde language,
meaning "to become contorted" and describes the stooped appearance of
sufferers with joint pain.
WHO Media Centre also explained that the virus
is transmitted from human to human by the bites of infected female mosquitoes.
The mosquitoes are Aedes aegypti and Aedes
albopictus, two species which can also transmit other mosquito-borne viruses,
including dengue. These mosquitoes bite during daylight hours, although there
may be peaks of activity in the early morning and late afternoon. Both species
bite outdoors, but Ae. aegypti will also readily feed indoors.
Illness lasts between four to eight days but can
range from two to 12 days.
To prevent and control the virus to spread
and/or developed, the official advised the public to cover old tires, drums,
and others that are possible breeding sites for mosquitoes.
Que also said frequent change of stagnant waters
of vases, and dish drainers must also be dried.
Most importantly, Que said the public must
conduct frequent cleaning of the environment “inside and outside the house.”
(RER/PIA-Caraga)
DENR- Caraga donates confiscated ollegal logs to
BCG
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) - A Butuan City
Government (BCG) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
– Caraga Region yesterday signed a deed of donation for the utilization of the
confiscated illegal logs.
Representing the BCG was Mayor Ferdinand M.
Amante, Jr. while DENR – Caraga Region was represented by its Regional
Executive Director and OIC Nonito M. Tamayo.
A total of 138,211.72 bd. ft. of confiscated
lumber has been donated by the DENR – Caraga Region to the BCG, this as both
the DENR – Caraga Region and the BCG previously entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) entitled “Kahoy ng Kaligtasan”.
“Kahoy ng Kaligtasan” ia a partnership that aims
to proactively evacuate families in danger zones into safer grounds and create
venues for economic gains, and consider situations where there is recurring
onslaught of typhoons around the Mindanao area, especially in the low-lying
areas in Butuan City.
The Deed of Donation states that “the donated
forest products shall be solely utilized for the construction of 100 units
Multi-Sectoral Shelter Program Model House and boardwalk/viewing deck at
Freedom Park, Butuan City”.
Vice Mayor Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun and DENR
Regional Technical Director Maritess M. Ocampo stood as witnesses to the Deed
of Donation Signing.
A Press Conference participated by the local
media also took place prior to the signing of the Deed of Donation.
(CMO-PIO/PIA-Caraga)
5,500 Surigaonons avail of medical mission
By 1LT. Stephen Basco
SURIGAO CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) -- Residents of
Surigao City, numbering 5,544 benefited from the joint medical and dental
mission conducted recently in several barangays and towns of the province.
The barangays of San Juan and Barangay Sukailang
in Surigao City; Poblacion, Gigaquit; and Poblacion, San Francisco were the
fortunate beneficiaries in the free Joint Medical and Dental Mission from
January 22-25.
Of the 5,544 beneficiaries, 1,106 availed of
tooth extraction; 1,663 of eye examination with free eye glasses; 535 of
dermatologic examination/treatment; and 2,240 were given free medical
consultation and treatment.
Lt. Col. Iringan said the Medical and Dental
Civic Action Program (Medcap) of the Philippine Army is a continuing program
given to the less fortunate living in depressed areas.
“The Philippine Army is collaborating with
stakeholders to continue conducting this kind of activity. With this, we
encourage every organization, institution, local government unit, and private
individuals to join us in undertaking this kind of activity and let the people
of Surigao del Norte see and feel that we are united in building a progressive
and healthy society,” Iringan added.
The four-day mission was headed by the
Philippine Medical Association of Chicago, headed by Dr. Simeon
Sevandal,;Rotary Club of Metro Surigao headed by Bong Quintero; and Bessie Lim,
president of Midtown Jewels in partnership with the 1st Technical and
Administrative Service Brigade, AFPRESCOM led by Lieutenant Col. Abraham C.
Bayan and the 30th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, led by
Lieutenant Col. Vincent B. Iringan.
The said activity was also participated by the
Dental Team from the Department of Education Surigao City Division; 1364th
Dental Detachment, Military Treatment Facility, Camp Edilberto Evangelista
Station Hospital, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, stationed at Barangay
Patag, Cagayan de Oro City and 4th Forward Support Medical Company, Service
Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, stationed at
Barangay Bancasi, Butuan City. (SDR/Acting CMO-30IB, PA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
2nd Provincial BHWs Congress held
AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Jan. 29 (PIA) -- The barangay
health workers (BHWs) of Agusan del Norte conducted their second congress,
recently at the Training Center here to continue addressing the health needs of
the local residents.
BHWs serve as frontliners in the implementation
of all health programs and activities of the Department of Health (DOH) such as
Maternal and Child Health Care, tuberculosis, family planning, and infectious
diseases.
Although they only receiving honoraria, these
silent but effective health workers provide the basic health needs of the
barangay.
In his lecture, board member Daniel O. Racaza,
chairman of the SP Committee on Health, discussed Republic Act 9211 or the
Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 where smoking is banned in public places such as
parks, schools, recreational facilities frequented by children, hospitals,
clinics, barangay halls, restaurants, and public utility vehicles.
Racaza pointed out the law mandates these
establishments to designate smoking and non-smoking areas in their respective
places. The official also emphasized the hazards of smoking. “Vice Governor
Enrico R. Corvera quit smoking because he has undergone an angiogram and I
stopped smoking due to cancer,” he said.
To raise funds for the federation, the congress
was also highlighted with a Search for Miss Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (KP) – BHW,
a money contest with representatives from the different municipalities of the
province and Cabadbaran City.
In an interview with Norma Albiva, BHW
Federation president of Agusan del Norte, she said the province has around
1,080 BHWs.
She added in order to update themselves on the
latest health news, they conduct quarterly meetings to discuss the latest
health reports, make resolutions for the federation to improve and discuss
income-generating projects such as micro-lending to increase their funds.
In Cabadbaran City, they started their
micro-lending project in 1995 with a capital of only P9,000 and she is proud to
say that it is almost P1 million at present.
Laurencia C. Montaus, a BHW in Poblacion 1 of
the municipality of Tubay claimed, “Bisan tuod og honorarium ra ang akong
nadawat pero nalipay gihapon ko sa akong pagserbisyo kay nakatabang man ko sa
mga health needs sa akong mga kabarangay sama sa pag-conduct og mother’s class
aron tudloan sila kung unsa ang insaktong pag-areglar sa ilang mga anak, family
planning, ‘operation timbang’ sa mga bata ug uban pa” (Although I'm only
receiving an honorarium, I'm still happy in serving the health needs of my
fellow residents in our barangay by conducting mother's class and teach them
the proper way of caring their child, familly planning, operation weighing of
children, and others).
Present during the said event were Vice Governor
Enrico R. Corvera, board members Rey Jamboy, Lorito MaragaΓ±as, Fortunato
Rosales, Dr. Elizabeth Campado, Dr. Pio Bagaluyos, BHW coordinator Jacquiline
Galan, and barangay officials of the province. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/RER/PIA-Agusan
del Norte)
DENR donates illegally-cut logs for Butuan’s
shelter program
By Junesther Jean S. Iway and Eldie N. David
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 29 -- The Sangguniang
Panlungsod has recently authorized City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. to enter
and sign a Deed of Donation with the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) pertaining to the confiscated logs and its proper utilization.
In a press conference held recently, the
objectives as well as the terms and conditions indicated in the Deed of
Donation were laid down by both parties.
The deed
expressly states that donated confiscated logs will be used as construction
materials for the construction of the 100 housing units, day-care centers,
waiting sheds, boardwalk at the Freedom Park, and other support facilities.
This is in recognition of the exigency of the recurring calamities around
Mindanao especially in the Caraga Region where Butuan City lies.
The implementation of a sustained partnership
dubbed “Kahoy ng Kalikasan” to proactively work hand in hand for the evacuation
and relocation of families living in the identified danger zones of this city,
therefore, offering refuge for them when calamity strikes. The MOU is designed
to jointly develop immediate-temporary evacuation centers and formal
settlements in various relocation sites.
Vice Mayor Law Fortun said during the press
conference that the local government of Butuan led by Mayor Jun Amante has been
very serious in the protection of the environment.
“This is manifested with the continuous
apprehension of illegally cut logs in the past months which can now be utilized
in the city government’s shelter program," Fortun added.
“We in
the Sangguniang Panlungsod had always been behind in this endeavor and will
continue to pass measures to strengthen our laws in the protection of the
environment,” Fortun said. (Vice Mayor’s Office/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano news: MalacaΓ±ang giawhag ang mga mall
operators sa pagsiguro sa ilang mga security measures aron masiguro nga luwas
ang ilang mga parokyano
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Enero 29 (PIA) -- Ang MalacaΓ±ang
miapila kagahapon ngadto sa tanang mga mall operators ng rebyuhon ang ilang mga
security measures ug seguroon nga nahisubay kini sa striktong pagmonitor ug
detection protocols aron malikayan ang pagdala og mga pusil ug uban pang mga
bawal nga hinagiban sulod ngadto sa ilang establisemento.
Si Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
mihimo sa maong pag-awhag tungod sa pagpangawat nga nahitabo sa usa ka jewelry
store didto sa ground floor sa SM Megamall Department store sa Mandaluyong City
niadtong Sabado.
Matud pa ni Lacierda nga kinahanglan seguroon
gyud sa mga mall operators ang pagpahigayon og striktong pag rebryu sa ilang
mga security measures uban ang hugot nga koordinasyon sa Philippine National
Police aron maseguro nga luwas ang ilang mga parokyano. (RER/SDR/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
