DOH-Region 6 sets campaign against firecrackers
The Department of Health in Western Visayas is all set for the information campaign against the firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.
On November 28, 2008 various national government and private institutions will convene at the DOH Regional Office Conference Room in Mandurriao, Iloilo City for the orientation on "Fourmula Kontra Paputok program, and likewise to discuss plans to further increase the level of awareness of the public on the drastic effects of pyrotechnics to the lives and health of the people.
According to OIC-Director Ariel Valencia injuries accounted for nine percent of the world's death according to World Health Organization (WHO) report in 2000.
"Injury is a major contributor to ill health and disability," Director Valencia said.
He emphasized that during the holiday season the number of firecracker related injuries have increased, and Region 6 was next to National Capital Region in terms of the number of persons affected.
"They are not accidents, they are preventable and predictable," Valencia said.
Dr. Erwin G. Solas, regional coordinator of "Fourmula Kontra Paputok" program of the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas said that based on the record from Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City and the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City the victims of firecrackers blast are getting younger each year.
He said that every December 31 to January 1 of the coming year, Code White Alert is in place for all government health facilities in the region to help persons who might be victims of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices. (PIA/T.Villavert)