Oil-spill related diseases up in Guimaras
Photos shows the legs of Shirley Templo, 46 y.o.,
from Brgy. Tando, Nueva Valencia, inflicted with
contact dermatitis.
Health personnel in the province of Guimaras are also working double time as health cases related to the oil spill continue to rise in number.
Dr. Zenaida Villareal, officer-in-charge of Department of Health (DOH) VI, in a telephone interview told The News Today that the Provincial Health Office of Guimaras reported 254 patients from August 15-21, 2006 who incurred illnesses related to the oil spill.
Guimaras Provincial Hospital recorded four patients with one admission.
While, coastal barangay Tando recorded 94 patients, Lapaz, 5 and Alegria, 1. All three barangays are part of Nueva Valencia town, which is hardest hit by the oil spill.
Villareal said other affected barangays reported a total of 150 patients.
Villareal said cases range from cough, dizziness, contact dermatitis, asthma, diarrhea, gastro-entiritis and other respiratory problems.
She said the DOH regional office has already set up a team to conduct daily monitoring of health cases in affected barangays.
Villareal said diarrhea and gastro-entiritis cases could be due to eating of contaminated seafoods.
DOH early last week warned Guimaras residents of the possible effects to health of the oil spill.
The Office of Civil Defense said the spill had now spread over some 300 kilometers of coastline on Guimaras island and was now threatening Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
Health officials urged residents in affected areas to use protective gears when making contact with the oil slick.
They also warned residents against eating fishes and other marine life coming from areas affected by the oil spill as it could be contaminated and could cause gastro-intestinal problems.
Residents along the affected areas were also told to avoid swimming or wading into the water.
Villareal said the DOH regional office has already sent needed medicines to the Guimaras Provincial Health Office to help the affected residents.
Villareal fears that the cases would continue to rise in number if residents would not take the necessary precautions.
About 50,000 gallons of bunker oil have reportedly seeped out of sunken oil tanker Solar I since it went down the ocean floor, some 600 meters deep, off Nueva Valencia, Guimaras last August 11 due to heavy seas.
The tanker was carrying 2 million liters of bunker oil when it went down the sea in what has become one of the worst environmental catastrophes ever to hit the Philippines.