TACLOBAN CITY – Health officials and personnel from the Department of Health (DOH) in the region made rounds to different hospitals as part of their “Iwas Paputok” campaign for the New Year’s Day.
The group visited the Eastern Visayas Medical Center, the region’s largest government-run hospital, Divine World Hospital, Mother of Mercy Hospital, Shalom Hospital, and Tacloban City Hospital.
During their monitoring, they checked the preparedness of the hospital staff in responding and providing medical attention to patients who could be victims of firecracker blasts.
They also checked if the hospitals had enough medicines, including first aid kits for digesting “watusi” consisting of egg and carbonated charcoal, and if these facilities had allocated a bed in the emergency room for firecracker victims.
“Based on the initial monitoring, the hospitals are now ready to respond in line with our Iwas Paputok campaign,” DOH-8 OIC Regional Director Lilibeth Andrade said.
“At least kung magkaroon man ng injury ang ating mamamayan madaling matutugunan ng mga hospitals,” she added expressing hope that no one will be seeking medical assistance this New Year celebration due to firecracker related injuries.
Just like in previous year, the health department is aiming to achieve a “zero” case of firecracker-related injuries.
Last year, Eastern Visayas logged six firecracker-related injuries, higher than the five cases reported in 2022. Most of the victims were from the provinces of Leyte, Samar, and Northern Samar.
Most of the injuries were due to the use of ‘lantaka’, ‘’kwitis, and ‘super lolo.’
At present, all hospitals in Tacloban still have no reported cases of firecracker related injuries.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
