DOH-NCR DISPATCHES WASH TEAM TO TACLOBAN CITY Press Release/28 November 2013 The Department of Health – National Capital Region (DOH-NCR) today sent its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and disinfection Team for Tacloban City to guarantee the safety and potability of water in evacuation centers located in various barangays in the province. “We do not want to have an epidemic of water or animal animal-borne diseases after the disaster that is why we are augmenting the existing health teams already deployed in the region. This team will extend disinfection and sanitation services in evacuation areas to ensure the safety and potability of water,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo stated. “They will also provide essential services for the protection of the survivors in evacuation areas that includes ensuring an adequate supply of safe drinking water, providing food protection measures, ensuring basic sanitation services and promoting personal hygiene,” he added. According to Janairo, the WASH team will not only monitor the status of water but will also provide anti-dengue misting operations and disinfection in evacuation centers to prevent the spread of diseases like diarrhea, cough and cold and to improve their health conditions of the residents. “Due to overcrowding in these areas, children who are prone to illness may contract these diseases.” The WASH will inspect and assess the status of water supply in evacuation areas like deep well, communal faucet, stand post, waterworks from local provider and bottled water. Excreta disposal and solid waste management will also be closely supervised. Among the equipment brought by the WASH team are two spray cans, one ultra-low volume machine (ULV), six boxes of MD solution, four boxes of Pesguard, ten boxes of Hyposol and four gallons of calcium chlorite. The operation is a response to President Benigno S. Aquino’s directive to ensure the health and safety of the survivors in the province and provide appropriate and efficient measures of assistance and support such as medicines and deployment of medical and health teams. The DOH-NCR WASH team will remain in Tacloban for 12 days.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 06:55:54 +0000