HEALTH

KIDAPAWAN CITY -The ACF Philippines, a humanitarian organization, expressed appreciation to Filipinos for signing a petition dubbed as, ‘Generation Nutrition.” The global campaign, launched over a year ago, has called to stop children dying from malnutrition. Dyan Aimee Rodriguez, advocacy coordinator of ACF International on the Generation Nutrition campaign, told Filipinos that signed the petition were those that refused to keep silent over the ‘scandal’ of children’s lives lost or damaged due to malnutrition.

COTABATO CITY -- To help reduce the effects of violence and injuries to the inhabitants of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Department of Health (DOH-ARMM) today launched the Violence and Injury Prevention Alliance (VIPA) program, officials said today. According to Dr. Abdulhalik Kasim, MD, DOH-ARMM assistant secretary, the VIPA under the national government’s Violence and Injury Prevention Program (VIPP) primarily aims to reduce mortality, morbidity, and disability due to violence and injuries.

KORONADAL CITY - Eight out of 10 patients of a pulmonologist in South Cotabato have diseases related to cigarette smoking, a physician today said.Dr. Virgie Sulit, a pulmonologist, revealed this during the launching of an anti-smoking drive in Koronadal City over the weekend.Apulmonologist, or pulmonary disease specialist, is a physician who possesses specialized knowledge and skill in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions and diseases. Sulit said most of the patients were either active, passive or former smokers.She advised smokers to quit now before its too late.

KORONADAL CITY -- Health authorities in a remote village of Tantangan, South Cotabato have ordered all residents to boil drinking water and avoid taking food sold at roadsides. Dr. Renato Ureta, municipal health officer of Tantangan, South Cotabato led a team of health workers in visiting Barangay New Iloilo after 36 persons simultaneously complained of abdominal pain and diarrhea Thursday morning. The villagers were rushed to various of hospitals in Koronadal City. Ureta said the patients have complained of stomach pain and diarrhea. Many have become weak the past 12 hours.

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The health department in Soccsksargen (Region 12) is still short of pentavalent vaccines or five individual vaccines conjugated in one to protect children from five deadly diseases, an official from the region’s Department of Health (DoH-12) said. Dr. Frank Mateo, DOH-12 assistant regional director, admitted the giving of pentavalent vaccines had already stopped, in the meantime, in many parts of the region. Mateo said the problem is with the bidding process, which, until now, is not yet completed. The bidding is now at the DoH central office.

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao — After 36-years, the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital (MPH) has evolved from ordinary health facility to what it is now – a state of the art hospital which prioritize peasant farmers.
This after hospital management established new building and health facilities with more physicians and health providers to serve patients. No less than Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) President Alexander Padilla and DOH Undersecretary Paulyn Jean Ubial as special guests of the program on Thursday.

MLANG, North Cotabato -- Massive information campaign, stakeholders active participation and massive cleaning program down to the barangay level led to reduced number of dengue cases here, officials said.Dr. Glicerio Sotea, Mlang town health chief, the local government unit has conducted fogging operations in areas where there were high cases of dengue in the past, information campaign for villagers who responded by cleaning their surroundings every 4 p.m. that resulted in lower dengue cases and lowered the alert status in town.In July, 16 dengue cases were reported.

KIDAPAWAN CITY -Two hinterland towns in North Cotabato, both beneficiaries of a globally-funded water, sanitation, and hygiene project, are competing in a nationwide search for barangays with the best sanitation practices. Mayor Rene Rubino of the municipality of Arakan has signed an executive order declaratingthat they are joining this year’s National Search for Barangays with the Best Sanitation Practices (NSBBSP) of the Department of Health (DoH). Rubino has chosen Barangay Datu Mantangkil to compete for NSBBSP under Category-One or barangays with 100 to 250 households.

MATANOG, Maguindanao - Hundreds of villagers here have availed of medical mission conducted by World's Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) over the weekend.Residents here admitted to DXMS-AM RAdyo Bida they seldom visit a health center unless a relative in a very serious health situation.Poverty, distance to health stations were among the reasons they forwarded.Now that a medical team was in town, many villagers here, mostly belonging toIranun tribe, have availed of the services rendered by WAMY.One of them was Lola Ta Bai.

COTABATO CITY -- Health authorities in North
Cotabato have intensified campaign against cases of dengue as it noted rising
cases this year. Dr. Eva Rabaya, North Cotabato provincial health
chief, said from January to August 15 this year, the Integrated Provincial
Health Office (IPHO) recorded seven death in at least four towns.

This year, Rabaya said, the Provincial Epidemiology
and Surveillance Unit (PESU), listed 1,545 dengue cases which is 92 percent
higher as compared to the same period last year.