The AH1N1 virus is spreading steadily across the world and the Philippines has its fair share of swine flu cases. In response to this, Secretary Ronnie Puno recently ordered local government units to reactivate Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams or BHERT around the country.
These teams are volunteer community organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health by providing Emergency Medical Services, and other basic health services, as required, to the community. The reactivation of said teams will hopefully help people be informed as to how to combat the spreading of the dreaded virus.
Meanwhile, in Southern Leyte, the provincial hospital has already sent medical technologists for training. The said training will help the province's health sector be ready if a case of the flu is reported in the area. Being ready to respond to the situation is expected to save a lot of lives especially if the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams are informed of what they need to do in responding to a suspected case of swine flu.
Dr. Noel Lumen, Head of the Technical Department at the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Provincial Hospital meanwhile admitted that while no cases of the A H1N1 strain has been reported in the province, "the seasonal anti-flu vaccine for AH1N1has not yet circulated here in the province and probably the whole of Eastern Visayas because it is still under clinical study for about 4 to 6 months." While said vaccine is known to work only against seasonal influenza and not against the tougher A H1N1 strain, it is still needed in the community.
Apart from reactivating BHERTs, Secretary Ronnie Puno's circular also ordered Barangay Health Workers and even Barangay Tanods to keep track of the visitors in their respective barangays. This is essential especially if said visitors came from a province or a country known to have a reported case of the swine flu. Hopefully, these precautions will keep the province safe from the feared virus. With the flu still spreading though, expect more precautionary measures from the office of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Meanwhile, in Southern Leyte, the provincial hospital has already sent medical technologists for training. The said training will help the province's health sector be ready if a case of the flu is reported in the area. Being ready to respond to the situation is expected to save a lot of lives especially if the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams are informed of what they need to do in responding to a suspected case of swine flu.
Dr. Noel Lumen, Head of the Technical Department at the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Provincial Hospital meanwhile admitted that while no cases of the A H1N1 strain has been reported in the province, "the seasonal anti-flu vaccine for AH1N1has not yet circulated here in the province and probably the whole of Eastern Visayas because it is still under clinical study for about 4 to 6 months." While said vaccine is known to work only against seasonal influenza and not against the tougher A H1N1 strain, it is still needed in the community.
Apart from reactivating BHERTs, Secretary Ronnie Puno's circular also ordered Barangay Health Workers and even Barangay Tanods to keep track of the visitors in their respective barangays. This is essential especially if said visitors came from a province or a country known to have a reported case of the swine flu. Hopefully, these precautions will keep the province safe from the feared virus. With the flu still spreading though, expect more precautionary measures from the office of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
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