DOH 7 Cites Importance of Water and Sanitation in Evacuation Centers

An official of the government’s health department said that last week that water and sanitation are the most important aspects to watch out for in the evacuation centers during disasters.

Doctor Joanri Riveral, program manager of food and water borne diseases of the Deparment of Health (DOH) 7 said last week that the most common diseases to affect evacuees during disasters are mostly coming from dirty water and poor sanitation services.

During last week’s AGIO Forum at the DOH 7 office, Riveral identified diarrhea, typhoid, liptospiroses, coughs, fever,sore eyes, measles, and even skin diseases are mostly common at the evacuation site.

“So this is the reason why everybody must diligently aware to maintain cleanliness and sanitation , we see to it that everybody must drink clean water and eat clean foods. Washing hands before eating is very important factor”, Riveral said.

However, he said that because of the implementation of Republic Act (RA)10121 water supplies may already be addressed in every evacuation site once disaster happens.

Riveral added that addressing the basic needs of the evacuees is the prime obligation of the local government units (LGUs) such as foods, water and other related necessities.

“The barangay and municipal health workers are also automatically in-charge of maintaining cleanliness and sanitation in the area with the support of their constituents”, Riveral said.

“This is to ensure that everybody at the evacuation center is safe especially the children”, he added.

Riveral explained that the DOH main office in the region will also address the medical needs of the disaster victims by sending all the necessary medicines and other technical facilities to evacuation centers when diseases outbreak occurs.

He said that water contamination is dangerous because this will cause diarrhea, typhoid and liptospiroses. This could usually happens in areas where the people have no toilets but opted to leave their human waste near the water source, he said.

Riveral said that during the rainy season, rainwater may wash away their waste down to the potable water source and anybody who could drink that water will also be automatically intake the germs came from the human waste.

“Then the problem begins as the people will either confronted with diarrhea or typhoid fever”, Riveral said.

Aside from these deadly diseases, there is also another risk of rat urine contamination once the water source are left open.

He added the DOH will also provide chlorine and other medical products to fight water contamination in every evacuation center.

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