DOH steps up ‘Kontra Paputok’ drive
The ‘Kampanya Kontra Paputok’ of the Department of Health (DOH) has laid out a number of acitvities for a low-rate firecracker-related injuries during the holiday season.
Part of the action plan is the public information campaign that aims to promote information and awareness on the dangers of firecrackers and prevention of firecrackers.
The campaign, directed by Center for Health Development directors and chiefs of DOH hospitals, calls for close cooperation among local radios, TV networks and local government units.
The DOH has ordered all CHDs to take the lead in implementing the public information campaign in their respective regions or catchments area for ‘Kampanya Kontra Paputok’ activities, which include information dissemination on the dangers of using prohibited firecrackers and watusi.
Campaign against the use of firecrackers is more evident in public places such as Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) terminals, malls, etc.
To discourage more the public to use firecrackers, streamers and posters of injured victims are posted in strategic and public places.
As of December 22, 2010, DOH has released the list of illegal banned firecrackers which include Piccolo, Pla-pla, 5-star, Atomic Bomb, Triangulo, Super Lolo, Boga and Watusi.
Based on the memorandum of the Philippine National Police-Firearms and Explosives Division in 2002 yet, “watusi” is already banned from the market and the PNP no longer authorizes the sale of the said firecracker.
Health Secretary Enrique Ona recently showed ‘Kampanya Kontra Paputok’ tarpaulin to the public. It aims to reduce incidence of fireworks-related injuries to children as DOH data revealed that most injuries due to fireworks are found in children aged below 10 years old, thus leads to this year’s slogan “Walang Batang Magpapaputok.”
“The DOH data clearly indicates that children are most prone and vulnerable to fireworks-related injuries,” Ona said.
The DOH, though, will not take away the fun of celebrating the holidays by releasing the list of allowed firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices and suggesting local government units to designate common fireworks display area, where the community can gather and awe at fireworks display handled by professionals.*PNA
