DOH enjoins public to support 'Iwas Paputok' campaign
The Department of Health - Center for Health Development 6 (DOH-CHD 6) is calling for the support of stakeholders to reduce if not totally eliminate firecracker-related injuries through its "Iwas Paputok" campaign this holiday season.
Western Visayas ranked third among the top three regions in the country with the most cases of firecracker-related injuries.
Health education promotion officer III Helen Rivera said 94 percent of the cases were males and about 35 percent of those injured were children 10 years old and below.
Rivera added that hopefully there would be no case this year.
She relayed that DOH-CHD 6 OIC regional director Ariel Valencia has encouraged the public to follow the good practice of Davao City and Marikina City where firecrackers are not allowed.
Rivera said it is also necessary for parents to keep watch over their children to refrain them from using firecrackers.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) here also called on local government units to designate firecracker zones for selling and if possible designate common areas for fireworks display to reduce injuries.
The DOH-CHD 6 will start its monitoring of firecracker-related injuries from December 21 to January 5 next year.
The agency also installed a hotline for those who would like to have more information about the campaign. The numbers to call are (033) 321 0205 and (033) 321 0312 for fax. (PNA)