TINOTO, Maasim, Sarangani (October 19, 2011) – Provincial health officer Dr. Antonio Yasana today declared all sources of water within barangay Tinoto “not fit for drinking purposes.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Jose Zamorro said a municipal vehicle was already shuttling containers of drinking water from the poblacion to the diarrhea-stricken village.
All drinking water hauled to the village will continue water treatment using “Waterine Solution” for drinking purposes until the situation has been totally stabilized.
“The situation is manageable, meaning we are addressing the needs of the community,” said Yasana. “We do not want that there will be more (diarrhea) cases that will be happening.”
On Monday (October 17), Dr. Jaileen Milar, municipal health officer, reported that diarrhea cases started to occur on October 11 with one diarrhea death reported on the same date. Another two deaths were reported on October 15 and 16 and the cases of diarrhea escalated to 46.
On Tuesday (October 18), the total number of cases reached 254 but mostly outpatient due to “mild presentation” of the illness. As of today, Milar said only 18 diarrhea patients were admitted at Maasim Municipal Hospital.
Fishing is the main livelihood of the people in barangay Tinoto (population 4,534). Their water source is from two peddling tankers coming from Bawing, General Santos City and Siguel, and two local water systems.
At a meeting presided over by Yasana this morning, an internal crisis committee (ICC) was created to plan and implement “immediate actions” even as the diarrhea outbreak subsided.
Yasana told the ICC composed of municipal and barangay officials that the existing water source in Tinoto can be used for washing and laundry only and not even for washing dishes or kitchen utensils.
“What is definite is that all the water sources are infected, contaminated with coliform bacteria,” Yasana disclosed, based on initial result of microbiological test of Tinoto’s water sources.
Health workers were continuing surveillance in the village. “We have enough drug supplies. So as of the moment, what I can say is that the situation is manageable,” Yasana said.
Yasana also recommended the construction of a communal toilet. He said there were “no sanitary toilets among the majority of the residents with no proper waste disposal.”
“Most of the patients interviewed do not practice simple and proper hygiene practices such as handwashing,” Yasana reported. “Many were observed to have dirty long nails.”
The village had been declared under a state of calamity for the barangay government to use its 5-percent calamity fund.
The ICC would meet again Thursday (October 20) to discuss civil works for the rehabilitation of water system and construction of communal toilet. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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