DOH 7 on Reduction of Firecracker Injuries: No Reason to Cheer Up

The slight reduction of firecracker injuries and a fatality last Christmas and New year day celebrations have not totally cheered the regional health agency in Central Visayas, according to Department of Health (DOH)7 Regional Director Dr. Jaime S. Bernadas last Wednesday.

During the Kapihan sa PIA at DOH 7 regional office, Bernadas shared to the media his sentiment over the stubbornness of some firecracker victims.

“Instead of heeding warnings against firecrackers using during holiday seasons, they are continuing to do it without favorable reasons”, Bernadas said.

The DOH regional office has listed 73 injuries and one fatality during the recent Christmas and New year revelry, compared to 98 injuries without fatality during last year’s celebrations.

“The DOH people don’t have enough reasons to cheer up because the figure shows the adamant of people to preserve lives,” he said.

According to Bernadas what the people ought to do is to totally avoid using firecrackers as part of merry makings, even without any law dictating everybody to halt it.

Bernadas is aware that all Senate bills banning the manufacturing ,marketing and use of firecrackers are stalled at the senate waiting for its deliberations.

“But I don’t know why senators are not seriously discussing its merits and demerits which are supposedly beneficial to all,” he said.

The DOH is the lone state’s agency spearheading the campaign to a total ban of firecrackers, but only the Davao city local government units (LGUs), have religiously complied it.

The Davao City LGUs headed by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was successful in the implementation of a local ordinance banning the use of firecrackers as part of merry makings.

“So if the Davao City LGUs were united in gaining the success of their local ordinance against firecrackers,” how about us here in the Visayas and other parts of the country,he said.

“Why we could not implement strictly a law like what the Davao City officials did, is it because we (are) afraid to protect the public’s safety? Bernadas added.

He also added the DOH people are just hoping that sooner or later the people will realize that firecrackers are considered as a kind of weapon to disorganize the human body to a total disability, or death.