Firecracker related injuries in Region 12 now at 33
HEALTH • 16:24 PM Mon Jan 2, 2017
1,217
By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
KORONADAL CITY -- The number of firecracker-related injuries in the SOCCKSARGEN region, as of January 2, rose to 33 as the Department of Health (DOH-12) continue to receive reports from various health stations across Region 12. Jenny Ventura, DOH-12 focal person on injury related cases monitoring system, said the number was still way below as compared to the same period last year. The number is way below, and we have no reported stray bullet victim, she said. Hopefully, next time around we have zero casualty. That is good news, said Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr, speaking for police in the SOCCSKSARGEN region. SOCCSKSARGEN is composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal and Gen. Santos. Galgo said the joint campaign of DOH and PNP, along with other government agencies can be considered successful because of the huge drop in number of victims. Galgo also said the Police Regional Office No. 12 have not receive any report of a police officer firing his gun in welcoming 2017. On the 12th day of monitoring, Ventura said, DOH recorded 33 cases of firecracker related injuries, 20 of the victims were from South Cotabato. She said the number was 77 percent lower as compared to last year's data. Most of the victims were male (29) and four were females aged 4 to 56 years old and 23 were active users of firecrackers while the rest were passive. Ventura said Sarangani has 4 victims, Gen. Santos City (4), Sultan Kudarat (2), North Cotabato (2) and Cotabato City (1). She added that 32 of the victims were allowed to go home after medication while one remained at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Koronadal City. Ventura said the list may further increase when all the reports are submitted. Monitoring started on December 21 and will end on January 5. She added that no reported victim of stray bullets in Region 12. Across the country, the revelry led to 141, way belowas compared to about 800 last year.