Tau Omega Mu slates Southern Leyte medical mission Oct. 12 – 13

The medical mission will include free clinics from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside the municipal gymnasiums of Anahawan and Pintuyan on Oct. 12; and the municipal covered court of Macrohon on Oct. 13. The free clinics, which will be held in coordination with concerned government agencies of these towns, will include medical consultations, dental extractions, circumcisions, eye checkups, and free distribution of medicines and reading glasses.

Also from Oct. 12 to 13, Omegan doctors will conduct free cataract surgeries at the Southern Leyte Provincial Hospital in Maasin City, the fourth and last venue of the medical mission.

TOM is encouraging fellow Omegans who are available to provide additional help to the medical mission. For other details, they can get in touch with Brod Elwin Yu, the TOM medical mission director, at 0960 449 2733; or with Sis Lovella Libertad, the TOM medical mission coordinator, at 0906 379 3440. This is a chance to renew your bonds, especially with visiting doctors and fellow Omegans from abroad.

TOM was founded in October 1972 at the University of the Philippines – Manila. It now maintains chapters in major universities and colleges around the country, aside from local or community chapters and overseas groups organized by alumni members. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – A shellfish ban remains in place across seven coastal areas in Eastern Visayas after samples of shellfish meat from these waters tested positive for saxitoxin, the harmful substance responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). This announcement comes from an advisory issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Monday, September 16.

The affected areas under the shellfish ban include Daram Island, Samar; Zumarraga Island, Samar; Cambatutay Bay, Samar (Tarangnan); Matarinao Bay, Eastern Samar, covering General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo; Irong-Irong Bay, Samar (Catbalogan City); Maqueda Bay, Samar, which includes the towns of Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, San Sebastian, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, and Hinabangan; Carigara Bay, Leyte, including Babatngon, San Miguel, Barugo, Carigara, and Capoocan.

BFAR has imposed a strict ban on the harvesting, selling, and consumption of all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. (commonly known as “alamang” or shrimp fry) from these areas.
The continued shellfish ban is part of BFAR’s efforts to prevent cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning, a potentially deadly condition that can cause severe symptoms such as numbness, dizziness, and respiratory failure.

In addition to the shellfish ban, BFAR also issued a local red tide warning for several other areas, where waters are being closely monitored due to the potential spread of the toxin.
These areas include the coastal waters of Biliran Island; coastal waters of Calbayog City, Samar; coastal waters of Leyte, Leyte; and Villareal Bay, Villareal, Samar

In the town of Leyte, municipal workers have ramped up inspections of public markets to ensure compliance with the shellfish ban and red tide warnings.

Vendors are being closely monitored to prevent the illegal sale of banned shellfish, and the public is being continuously reminded of the health risks involved in consuming tainted seafood.

Despite the ongoing red tide warnings, BFAR clarified that fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs harvested from these areas are still safe to eat, provided they are fresh, properly cleaned, and all internal organs (such as intestines and gills) are removed before cooking.
BFAR stressed the importance of washing seafood thoroughly under running water to remove any contaminants.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Provincial Council for the Protection of Children (PCPC) in Northern Samar has officially adopted a Localized and Unified Protocol on Case Management and Referral System for Child Victims of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation, including cases of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).

This decision was made during the 3rd Quarter Joint Meeting of the PCPC, Provincial Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence against Women and their Children (PIACAT-VAWC), and the Provincial Advisory Council (PAC), which was presided over by Governor Edwin Ongchuan.

The PCPC, PIACAT-VAWC, and PAC are inter-agency bodies responsible for coordinating programs, policies, and strategies to promote and protect the welfare of children, women, and other vulnerable sectors in Northern Samar.

The newly adopted protocol will be incorporated into the operational procedures and policies of local government units (LGUs) within the province, specifically focusing on the management and referral of child victims.

This unified system aims to improve coordination and ensure that the needs of children are met effectively and efficiently.

“This will help streamline our efforts to address the needs of our children,” said Gov.Ongchuan during the meeting.

The protocol will also be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for adoption and implementation across the province.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) will distribute copies of the protocol to concerned offices and LGUs for guidance and implementation.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)