BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – – Despite an Administrative Order for the total ban of selling of firecrackers here in the summer capital, the City Health Services Office (HSO) reported 15 cases of firecracker-related injuries monitored from Dec. 21 (2014) to Jan 4, wherein many of the victims were children.
City HSO Epidemiology and surveillance unit head Dr. Donabel Tubera, in a Department of Health (DOH – CAR) led Kapihan media forum early today, reported that 15 cases of firecracker related injuries were recorded in two Baguio hospitals, half of which were 14 years old and below and with the youngest at seven years of age.
Tubera also discloses that despite the administrative order for a total ban on selling of firecrackers in the city, their monitoring shows that 40 percent of the victims got their firecrackers from various stalls in Baguio.
Tubera affirmed that for the past for years, the DOH led “Iwas paputok” campaign has been gaining ground, with lesser people using firecrackers and lesser monitored injury cases but ahe also stressed that with most firecracker-related injuries were children, a City Council passed ordinance could give the campaign against the sale and use of firecrackers during the yuletide season more teeth.
“There was a total ban on the selling of firecrackers here in Baguio through an administrative order by Mayor Mauricio Domogan (for two years now) but such effort can be further strengthen by a city council ordinance through provisions of penalty for violators”, she stressed.
Mayor Domogan who also joined the forum’s panellists also thanked those who supported the DOH and the City government for the campaign against firecrackers and call for a continuing and intensified partnership in ensuring the health and safety of the people, especially the children against the use of firecrackers during yuletide revelries which could do more harm than good, as what the DOH and their partners reported during the forum.
“This is for our own safety, especially the children and this is also good for the environment”, he stressed.
DOH Assistant Regional Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, in the same forum, reported a 32 percent increase in firecracker-related injuries region wide, wherein from the 52 cases recorded during the monitoring period December 21, 2012 to Jan. 4, 2013 – monitored cases increased 70 during the same period this year. (CCD – PIA CAR)
