ALARMED by reports on the deaths of adults and children due to cholera in North Cotabato, Senator Nancy Binay urged the Senate to launch an inquiry into the outbreak whose death toll continues to rise as days pass by.
In Senate Resolution 658, the senator urged the concerned Senate committees to conduct an inquiry into the cholera outbreak that has killed nine people -- five adults and four minors -- as of May 19 and infected many more of the residents of North Cotabato.
All nine victims did not make it to a hospital and died in their homes.
Cholera, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is an acute intestinal infection caused by food or water that has been contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae.
It can lead to severe dehydration and death if not immediately treated.
“We need to find out what led to the outbreak and how we will be able to prevent it in the future,” Binay said, stressing that health is a government priority.
Health officials and local sanitary inspectors said that damaged pipes providing water to North Cotabato residents may have led to water contamination.
“Kung sana naagapan ito noong kakaunti pa lamang ang kaso ng may cholera, sana ay hindi na umabot sa isang outbreak,” Binay said.
Binay has asked the Department of Health (DOH) whether it was still in control of the situation given reports on measles outbreak, the poor health conditions of evacuees in Zamboanga City and areas hit by typhoon Yolanda.
“Dito na lamang po sa North Cotabato, may mga report po na sa dami ng pasyente sa mga ospital, ang iba ay nasa labas na lamang habang naka-swero. Kailangan po nating malaman kung may kakayahan ang Department of Health na iwasan o kung hindi man ay pigilan ang sakittulad ng cholera,” Binay said. (Camille P.Balagtas/Sunnex)