MASANTOL, Pampanga—Twenty children here were taken to different hospitals in Pampanga and the nearby province of Bulacan due to diarrhea after drinking water in the eight coastal barangays found positive with coliform bacteria and E. Coli. It is not safe for human consumption, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) disclosed Sunday.
This came as the PMA doctors initiated the water sampling in the eight villages in this coastal town with the assistance of Maynilad Water Central Office.
Dr. Michael Aragon, chief of PMA media affairs, said they have conducted water sampling in barangays Nigui, Alauli, Sagrada Familia, Bagang, Balibago, Baco, Iscundo and Sapang Kawayan here.
Dr. Aragon said with the presence of coliform bacteria and E. coli, thousands of residents might be threatened with the possible outbreak of diarrhea.
“This is deadly. This could lead to severe illness and even death if not given due attention and prevented by the local officials and other concerned public and private sectors; hence, everybody’s help is needed,” he said.
As this developed, Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda immediately instructed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), Provincial Health Office to coordinate immediately with the municipal officials particularly the local health office to intensify the immediate information dissemination to all households in the said villages to prevent the spread of diarrhea and make the necessary medical measures and provision of water treatment solution powder to contain the bacteria.
The governor and PMA doctors said residents here should boil their water before drinking and chlorinate their deep wells, their primary source of potable water.
The PMA said they will help educate the people about coliform and E. coli to prevent the outbreak of diarrhea.
The PMA which initiated the “Doctors on Boats” last Saturday and Sunday benefitting almost 3,000 affected individuals here said no amount of medical missions would succeed here if the residents will continue drinking water coming from their deep wells.
The PMA doctors braved the floods and boarded boats to conduct house-to-house medical activities in all engagement areas here plus did psycho-social counseling to residents under stress. They brought with them vital medicines, relief goods and drinking water to families, trapped in their respective houses.
The PMA said the “Doctors on Boats” will not be possible without the assistance of the Department of Health, Department of National Defense, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Metro Manila Development Authority, REACT Philippines, Philippine Red Cross, United Laboratories, Incorporated, Pharex, GMA Kapuso Foundation Inc. UST Faculty of Pharmacy, FEU-NRMF and Beta Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association.
“I am very much thankful to Philippine Medical Association who conducted Doctors on Boats and for initiating the water sampling that led to the immediate trace of bacteria before it poses danger to the whole town,” Pineda said.
