Another Stupid Philippine Law Proposal by the DOH

Cases of leptospirosis are on the rise in the Philippines. The DOH has a novel solution on how to combat this disease. Ban swimming in flood waters. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/08/13/2377467/doh-wants-ban-swimming-floods

As cases of leptospirosis continue to rise, the Department of Health (DOH) plans to ask local government units, especially in flood-prone areas, to ban swimming in floodwaters.

Speaking to reporters yesterday at Malacañang, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa lamented the public’s lack of information about leptospirosis.

“I will recommend to local chief executives, to mayors, to issue an ordinance... to ban swimming in floodwaters,” Herbosa said.

The DOH chief said he would also talk with Education Secretary Sonny Angara to help in educating children about acquiring the disease by swimming in water contaminated with animal urine.

“It’s not a communication problem, it’s a behavior problem. We need a change in behavior,” Herbosa said.

He also called for proper solid waste management as accumulation of garbage attracts rats, the common cause of leptospirosis, adding that most of the cases were in areas affected by the recent flooding due to Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon.

Herbosa gave assurance that there is no shortage of doxycycline, which is used to treat the disease. Symptoms of leptospirosis include fever, vomiting, nausea, muscle pain and headaches.

Reports said a total of 1,444 leptospirosis cases were recorded from Jan. 1 to July 27 this year – a figure 42 percent lower compared to the 2,505 cases in the same period last year.

Dr. Alberto Domingo, DOH spokesman and assistant secretary, said the cases are expected to rise further.

“Not yet included in our latest data are the new cases we have now – those lined up in hospitals. Thus, we are seeing a rise in the number,” Domingo said in a televised interview.

He assured the public that even with the rise, there are still enough beds in hospitals for leptospirosis patients.

“We do not lack hospital beds. There are times, we observe there are hospitals about to get filled with patients but we are still able to manage,” Domingo said.

He reminded the public to seek immediate consultation after wading in floodwaters.

There are a lot of things wrong with this proposal. 

Who is going to enforce such a ban? Will the PNP be on patrol during heavy rains to arrest or scold children playing in gross flood waters? Perhaps they will arrest the parents instead?

Most importantly it does not address the root causes of the problem. The problem is the massive flooding which happens every rainy season in the Philippines. One would think that after nearly 80 years of self-rule the government would have been able to solve something so detrimental to the public but alas that is not the case. No matter how many roads are built or drainage tunnels dug the nation continues to flood. 

Part of the reason flooding continues is because many residential and business districts are built on easily flooded land which is below sea level. Banning building on flood-prone land would keep people out of the danger zone. 

The other part of the reason is, as DOH Secretary Herbosa notes:

"it’s a behavior problem. We need a change in behavior."

That includes teaching people to not litter and how to properly store and toss their garbage. That also means reforming how the government handles waste management. Garbage trucks need to come at regular intervals, same day and same time, to collect the waste. This does not always happen which causes waste to pile up which leads some to burning or littering. 

The bottom line is the Philippines does not need more laws on the books which will not be enforced. Real change in the Philippines will come with reeducation of the people and the government finally doing its job.

Operation Tuli For All to See

Every year in the Philippines hundreds if not thousands of school aged young boys are circumcised. These circumcisions are called Operation Tuli and happen on school grounds rather than in a hospital. To add to the humiliation of this ritual of genital mutilation pictures and videos are taken while it is happening.

Recently a video of a young boy having his foreskin removed circulated online. The National Privacy Commission says this is a grave violation of the boy's privacy.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1952550/npc-on-video-of-boy-being-circumcised-protect-childrens-dignity-and-privacy

A video of a boy being circumcised, which has made the rounds on social media, should not be shared any further, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) said.

According to its statement on Monday, the sharing of the video violates the privacy of the child and can have negative effects on his psychological and social stability.

“We strongly urge the public to avoid sharing such sensitive content, particularly when it involves minors, as it exposes them to potential cyberbullying and infringes upon their privacy and dignity,” the NPC said.

“The unauthorized sharing of videos or images involving children not only violates their privacy rights. It may also lead to serious psychological and social consequences,” it added.

The agency likewise urged the public to report the video when they see it online.

Meanwhile, healthcare providers were also instructed to remind parents and guardians who take photos and videos of their children undergoing medical procedures about responsible parenting and proper social media use.

“The privacy and dignity of our children must be safeguarded at all costs. Let us uphold our responsibility in maintaining a safe and respectful online environment for everyone,” the NPC concluded.

Privacy and dignity? These boys are getting their hogs sliced at school as a group! Everyone knows it is happening. Where is the privacy and dignity in having doctors knife your Johnson at school? Furthermore pictures of Operation Tuli are routinely posted online.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/11/over-700-youths-undergo-free-circumcision-in-taguig

More than 760 youths in four barangays availed of the Operation Libreng Tuli (Operation Free Circumcision) in Taguig. 

The city government launched the free circumcision service on June 4. 

Those who were circumcised were from Barangays East Rembo, Ususan, Bagumbayan and  Maharlika. The operations were held at East Rembo Elementary School, Ususan Elementary School, CP Sta. Teresa Elementary School and Maharlika Trade Center from June 5 to 8. 

The Operation Libreng Tuli is a yearly program of the city government through its Medical Assistance Office. 

The free circumcision was done by a group of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel. The city government also provided free medicine including antibiotic and pain reliever for the patients. 

The Operation Libreng Tuli will continue in the following barangays in Taguig:

June 10 – Western Bicutan

June 11 – Rizal

June  13 – Pitogo

June  14 – New Lower Bicutan and Lower Bicutan

June 15 – Upper Bicutan

“Circumcision is a surgery to remove the skin that covers the tip of the penis, also called the foreskin. For some families, circumcision is a religious ritual. The procedure also can be a matter of cultural or ethnic traditions, personal hygiene, or preventive healthcare. But for others, circumcision doesn't seem to be needed, or it seems risky,” according to the Mayo Clinic website.

The pictures in the above article are from the Taguig City Government. Google images has many more pictures of Operation Tuli. Where is the National Privacy Commission's rebuke to the groups and people who posted those pictures? Why do they care about this one single video? 

Rest assure if you are unlucky enough to be born in the Philippines as a male you will face the indignity of having your foreskin removed at school and in the presence of many others. Perhaps that fact is the problem which should be rectified. Then there would be no more pictures of videos of Operation Tuli.  

Filipino Man, 26, Wins P10,000 for Getting Circumcised

 What would you do for P10,000? One 26-year-old man was willing to get circumcised.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/22/man-26-earns-p10-000-cash-for-being-oldest-to-be-circumcised-in-lapu-lapu-city

No guts, no cash.

Such was the case for a 26-year-old man in Lapu-Lapu City who received P10,000 for being the oldest individual who was circumcised during the “Operasyon Libreng Tuli” (Operation Free Circumcision) in Lapu-Lapu City on Friday, June 21.

Lapu-Lapu Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan identified the man as a certain Alfredo Jr., a resident of Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu.

Chan handed the P10,000 cash to Alfredo, who was among the 1,350 individuals who availed of the free circumcision spearheaded by volunteer schools and the Department of Health-Central Visayas.

"Alfredo is very lucky. Aside from becoming a real man, he also got P10,000!,” Chan said.

Chan said Binibining Lapu-Lapu 2023 Cheron Kisses Co was also there to assist Alfredo during the circumcision.

Free ice cream and burgers were  given to those who were circumcised at the Hoops Dome in Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu.

With the theme “Transforming lives, one cut at a time,” the city government started the free circumcision last June 14.

Another Operation Tuli will be held on June 28 in nine areas in the city.

This is quite the lurid story. 

A 26 year old man, for reasons not specified, decided it was finally time to have his genitals mutilated. Not only does he get a free burger and an ice cream but he also wins P10,000. The headline says he earned it but getting circumcision is not a job.

While the doctor snipped his Johnson he was being assisted by a beauty queen named Cheron Kishes Co. 

How exactly was she assisting? Did she hold his hand? Did she hold something else?

To top it off the mayor declared that Alfredo Jr. has now become "a real man" as if he were still a child until he removed a bit of flesh from his hog. Does this mean the fourth graders who get snipped are "real men?"

Thank goodness Alfredo Jr. is covering his face because in this embarrassing picture it appears he is not wearing any pants or underwear. Did he go straight from the operating table to the photo-op? 

It is simply a bizarre story all around. Only in the Philippines?

Philippines to Send Mental Health Workers To Ukraine War

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was recently in the Philippines. During his visit he asked Marcos to send health workers to assist in the ongoing war with Russia. In particular he asked for mental health workers. President Marcos said he would do so. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1226069

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for humanitarian assistance, particularly in the mental health of Ukrainian soldiers amid the ongoing war with Russia.

In his meeting with Marcos at the Malacañan Palace on Monday morning, Zelenskyy said they need more mental health workers for their soldiers at the forefront of the crisis that their country has been facing for over two years now.

“Thanks, you mentioned about humanitarian possibilities especially for medicine and like I said to you, especially, psychological mental health and etc, – army. So, you understand how many people need their help when they come back, they can’t lose in the families,” Zelenskyy said, as quoted by a Presidential Communications Office (PCO) news release.

“It’s difficult for them – to study again,” he added.

For his part, Marcos told his Ukrainian counterpart that the Philippines could offer them help by sending Filipino mental health workers.

“That is something that I think we are able to offer,” President Marcos told Zelenskyy.

Marcos stressed that “the Philippines is quite well-known in healthcare in terms of providing assistance,” which is part of the country’s commitment to the United Nations for the peacekeeping process.

“I am happy to do all that we can to make sure that we can help especially the civilians and the innocents that are involved in the war. This is something that comes naturally to the Philippines so this will be something that we could pursue,” he added.

This rather a bizarre request from Zelenskyy who has gone hat in hand around the world seeking help to fight Russia. Why does he want Filipino mental health workers? Why did Marcos agree to send them when the DOH has admitted there is a lack of mental health workers in the Philippines which has created a crisis?

https://tribune.net.ph/2023/10/12/doh-admits-lack-of-mental-health-professionals

The Department of Health admitted on Thursday the lack of mental health professionals to address the looming mental health crisis in the country.

"Subjectively, I know there we do not have enough psychologists and psychiatrists," Health Secretary Ted Herbosa told reporters on the sidelines of the launching of the 2024-2028 Philippine Council for Mental Health Strategic Framework in Pasay City.

"So, we need more young people to be encouraged to go into psychological sciences," he said.

Herbosa issued the remarks when asked whether the country has enough human resources for mental health after the Philippine Mental Health Association, Inc. raised the alarm over the "rising epidemic of mental health crisis" in the country.

Citing data from the DOH, PMHA said at least 3.6 million Filipinos suffer from mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.

The PMHA said that access to mental health services in the country "remains limited and unequal due to stigma and scarce resources."

There is also less than one mental health worker for every 100,000 Filipinos, according to the group.

To address the problem, Herbosa proposed easing the requirements for psychologists and guidance counselors who want to work in government agencies.

"The government requires psychologists interested in working for them to have a master's degree, but their compensation is very low," he said.

Currently, he noted that psychologists in the government earn up to P27,000 per month under salary grade 11.

"That is wrong. So, I'm calling on CSC (Civil Service Commission) to change that," he said.

Not only is there a lack of mental health workers but DOH Secretary Herbosa has recommended lowering the requirements to become a psychologist. 

If Marcos had any sense he would have told Zelenskyy to buzz off but he did not. So, will mental health workers who cannot be spared be sent to Ukraine? Will unqualified wannabe mental health workers be shipped to console battle-scarred Ukrainian soldiers? Time will tell, of course. The whole thing is quite ridiculous. 

Nursing Shortage? Hire Nursing Graduates Who Failed the Board Exam!

New DOH Secretary Teddy Herbosa has sounded the alarm over the mass exodus of Philippine nurses abroad for better pay and working conditions. He says that if this issue is not addressed the number of nurses will be depleted within 3 - 5 years.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/873429/herbosa-sees-ph-nurses-depleted-in-3-5-years-if-exodus-not-addressed/story/

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said on Tuesday that the number of nurses working in the Philippines may be exhausted in a few years if the problem of them opting for better-paying jobs abroad is not addressed.

This is why, Herbosa said, he is pushing to grant temporary licenses to board-eligible nursing graduates and have them work as nurses in government hospitals.

He reiterated that 4,500 plantilla items for nurses are currently vacant in over 70 hospitals of the Department of Health (DOH) nationwide.

(That's why I'm focusing on it right now because if we don't do anything now, I can see that in a few more years, maybe three or five years, our nurses will run out. So I have to find a way to increase our nurses again.)

His immediate solution is certainly outside of the box, allow nursing grads who failed the board exams to be given temporary licenses. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/06/20/2275114/government-hospitals-employ-nursing-grads-who-failed-board-exams

Nursing graduates who failed their board exam with scores between 70-74 percent will be employed in government hospitals, according to the Department of Health (DOH).  

“I will tap them, around 50 percent of those who took the board exam but did not pass – specifically those who achieved a 70-74 percent rating,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in an interview at the DOH central office yesterday. 

The measure, supported by Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, will allow non-board passers to work in state hospitals under supervision and with temporary licenses. 

Non-board passers will be given four years to pass the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination. 

After passing the board exam, they have to sign a four-year return service agreement and work in government hospitals before they are allowed to work abroad.

“The plan to hire unlicensed nursing graduates is because under the Universal Health Care, the core of any health system are nurses, that is why they are being pirated by other countries... They have the capability to build more hospitals so they would then be needing the services of more nurses,” he said. 

The private sector offered scholarships for the board review classes of unlicensed nursing graduates, Herbosa said. 

Rather than put a stop to foreign nations "pirating" Philippine nurses Herbosa thinks staffing government hospitals with failures will solve the problem. Several nursing groups are opposed to this idea for various reasons. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/873486/nurses-groups-oppose-plan-to-grant-temporary-licenses/story/

Several nurses organizations on Tuesday expressed disapproval on the proposal to issue temporary licenses to unlicensed nursing graduates to allow them to work in government hospitals.

Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) president Melvin Miranda said that Health Secretary Ted Herbosa should reconsider his plan to hire nursing graduates who scored 70-74% in the board exam even though they flunked, given that they retake and pass the board exam after a certain period of time.

(One of our doubts here is that it seems like those who scored 70-74% in the board exam who will be given a temporary license have a scope of practice that is not yet considered. Since they are not considered by our law to hold professional practice, the burden will fall on our registered nurses who have the accountability.)

Miranda stressed that their priority as nurses is the safety of their patients, thus the Department of Health (DOH) should give the plantilla positions to the professional nurses instead.

(If a nurse is recognized as licensed, his/her level of confidence and his/her competence will be compared to a professional. When we give temporary licenses, there is no definite study to prove that unlicensed nursing graduates have achieved a high level of confidence in performing their tasks.)

(I think this kind of situation is quite risky and should be given more thorough study.)

This was echoed by Filipino Nurses United (FNU) secretary general Jocelyn Andamo, saying that the DOH should focus on hiring registered nurses instead as there are around 120,000 of them who are not currently working in the field of nursing.

“FNU's stand is DOH should prioritize employing registered unemployed nurses or those working in non-nursing jobs. There are around 120,000 nurses categorized by DOH who are working in unspecified field of practice.These may be those unemployed and or those in non nursing jobs,” Andamo said in a message to GMA News Online.

She stressed that issues of nurses, particularly on salary and benefits, should be addressed by the government in order to keep them working in the Philippines.

“The wages should be increased to P50,000 entry salary, give them regular, permanent positions and provide adequate benefits,” she appealed.

So, there are around 120,000 unemployed nurses in the country? Why is that? Have they elected not to work due to the low pay and horrible wiring conditions or have they been unable to find someone willing to hire them? Why wouldn't Teddy tap this prime and ready workforce?

Several Senators have also turned thier thumbs down to this proposal. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1790966/senators-reject-doh-chiefs-plan-to-hire-nursing-board-flunkers

Several senators on Tuesday rejected Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s plan to temporarily hire nursing board flunkers to address the dwindling number of nurses in government hospitals in the country.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said it would be better for the Department of Health (DOH) to institutionalize improvements in the salaries and benefits of state health workers instead of pursuing “Band-Aid solutions.”

“The proposal to allow non-board passers to practice nursing and grant them temporary licenses is a short-term solution,” Pimentel told reporters.

“The root causes of the shortage lie in the significant number of nurses leaving the country to seek higher-paying jobs abroad,” he noted.

It also expressed concern that such a move might compromise the quality of care provided to patients.

Pimentel said the proposal might also impact on the quality of the country’s nursing board exams.

“We have to protect the integrity of our testing system,” he said. “If they passed, that means they are ready (to become nurses). If they failed, then they are not yet ready… (The passing grade of) 75 means 75, not 74.5.”

Senators Nancy Binay and JV Ejercito shared Pimentel’s observations, with the latter pointing out that encouraging Filipino health professionals to stay in the country was one of the goals of the Universal Health Care Act.

“We cannot offer a genuine health care if there’s a shortage in healthcare workers,” Ejercito said. “If we can only give a (salary) raise that would be decent enough to sustain their family, (Filipino health workers) would choose to stay here.”

“The most practical thing to do is to prioritize the hiring of unemployed nurses,” Binay said.

It will compromise the quality of care and does not address the issue of nurses leaving the country. But when has the Senate ever addressed the OFW brain drain? 

One Solon appears to have found a working solution to this mess. A solution that makes Herbosa's plan conform to existing law. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1204115

A House leader on Thursday proposed amending the Philippine Nursing Act (Republic Act 9173) with the creation of categories for nurse practitioners and nursing assistants who can lighten the workloads of registered nurses in medical facilities.

House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation chairperson Alexie Tutor said the amendatory bill can be certified as urgent if the Department of Health (DOH) and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) deem the nursing personnel shortage to be in "urgent crisis mode."

Tutor said DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa's plan to provide temporary licenses to nursing graduates who failed the mandatory board exam, but nearly passed with ratings of 70 percent to 74 percent has no basis in either the Philippine Nursing Act or the PRC Modernization Act (Republic Act 8981).

"Republic Act 9173 and RA 8981 do not provide for any circumstance or situation wherein either the Nursing Board or the PRC is authorized or empowered to issue any temporary license to practice the nursing profession. We are aware of no precedents for the issuance of temporary professional practice licenses," she said.

Tutor, however, pointed out that RA 9173 has a provision under Section 15 allowing those examinees to retake the exam for those subjects where they got ratings lower than 60 percent.

"Special examinations can be scheduled for those. This is one way for the DOH and PRC to achieve what they would like to happen: have more passers of the nursing boards," she said.

She also proposed that instead of hiring "near passers", the DOH should hire several unemployed passers of the nursing boards through filling up the vacancies for nurses of the DOH hospitals' plantilla items.

According to this Solon Teddy's plan is illegal as it is but he could adjust it to make it conform to the law. For his part the DOH Secretary says he would shelve his plan if it was found to be illegal. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1792631/doh-may-shelve-plan-to-hire-unlicensed-nurses

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Friday said he would consider shelving his plan of allowing unlicensed nursing graduates to work in public hospitals should it fail to hurdle the “legal roadblocks.”

At a press briefing, Herbosa pointed out that he would welcome other possible solutions to the understaffing of nurses in public hospitals, among them hiring board-eligible graduates as “nursing trainees” who would be put in a “training program.”

“I don’t want to do anything illegal … If an agency tells me it’s illegal, then it’s illegal… I can’t force the issue. But they (other agencies) are with me to find solutions,” he told reporters.

Section 21 of the Philippine Nursing Act allows the grant of a special or temporary permit for a limited period only to foreign nurses invited to the country for a program or medical mission.

This has been raised by the Philippine Board of Nursing, said Herbosa, and so he has proposed to some lawmakers that the law be amended to make the issuance of licenses to board flunkers possible.

“They told me, amendment is easy… but they said that the president has to make it urgent,” Herbosa said of his conversation with the Professional Regulation Commission. “That’s the legal side of the problem… I’ll leave it to the lawyers and legislators to help solve the problem,” he added.

Another option is the hiring of nursing assistants under the DOH’s human resources for health program. Under this position, Herbosa noted, unlicensed nursing graduates would be hired under Salary Grade9, equivalent to around P21,000.“It’s being offered as a solution, and that’s going to go forward. It will be open to graduates of college but [are] awaiting to pass exams,” he said. 

The big takeaway here is that DOH Secretary Teddy Herbosa has started a conversation. He has said the quiet part out loud, that the Philippines is bleeding nurses due to the OFW program, and he has offered a solution. It may not be a good or even legal solution but that can always be remedied and adjusted. When will the government stop lauding OFWs and recognize that they represent a massive brain drain which is detrimental to the nation?!

The Refusal of Marcos to Appoint a DOH Secretary is Unconscionable

In a brave and stunning move which highlights his complete ignorance and lack of care for Filipinos President Bongbong Marcos has revealed that he will not be appointing an official DOH Secretary until the COVID situation in the nation normalizes. But the fact that the COVID situation is NOT normalized is exactly why there needs to be an official DOH Secretary and not just an OIC. But it is not only COVID that is plaguing the nation. There is an ongoing health crisis which needs to be addressed immediately. 

Measles and rubella cases are up 153% this year. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1675842/measles-rubella-cases-up-153-doh

The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded a total of 450 measles and rubella cases so far this year, 153 percent higher than 2021.

The DOH released this data — covering the period Jan. 1 to Sept. 17 — on Wednesday, after earlier warning of an impending measles outbreak by 2023 if the vaccination coverage of children against the said virus does not improve.

Alarmed by the data, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda urged the government to take advantage of the resumption of in-person classes and vaccinate more schoolchildren in order to avert a possible measles outbreak by early 2023.In a statement, Salceda said the resumption of in-person classes is an “opportunity to expand vaccination” among schoolchildren.

He added: “In the long run, we need to build capacity for vaccinating against common diseases. That is one function that an institutionalized Center for Disease Control can boost.”

Salceda made the remarks after DOH officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency needs more funds to hire more vaccinators and improve vaccination coverage because over one million children missed their routine vaccines during the pandemic, including measles shots.

Measles cases alone are up 179%.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/10/13/PH-measles-cases-179--higher.html

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reported a massive increase in measles cases in the country in September this year compared to the same period last year.

Latest DOH data showed there were 11 additional cases from Sept. 11 to 17, bringing the total to 413 as of Sept. 24. This posted a 179% increase compared to the same period last year where there were only 148 cases.

The DOH has warned there will be an outbreak by next year unless vaccination rates improve. 

Dengue cases are up 191%.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/14/22/doh-dengue-cases-up-191-pct-from-jan-1-oct-1

The Philippines has logged 173,233 dengue cases since the start of the year, which is 191 percent higher from the number of cases recorded in 2021, the Department of Health said Friday.

According to Dr. Alethea De Guzman, director of DOH's epidemiology bureau, dengue cases in the country started increasing in the third week of March.

"We peaked in the second week of July and now, we can see in the epidemic curve that the dengue cases have continued to decrease," she said in a press briefing.

From January 1 to October 1 last year, the Philippines had 59,514 dengue cases.

In the press briefing, De Guzman said dengue cases have also declined in all areas with declared outbreak, except Southern Leyte. These are Zamboanga City, Antique and Zamboanga Sibugay.

While dengue cases are now declining it is alarming that they rose so high in the first place and it is possible they could spike once more. 

Cholera cases are up 282%.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/847670/philippines-cholera-cases-282-higher-this-year-at-3-729-says-doh/story/

A total of 3,729 cholera cases have been recorded in the country since January 2022, which is 282% higher compared to the data during the same period last year, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.

At a press conference, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that in 2022, there were only 976 cholera cases.

Vergeire said that the most common age group affected with cholera are children aged 5 to 9, primarily due to unsafe drinking water.

(We know that it is the rainy season now, there is a lot of flooding, a lot of people also go to evacuation centers. Because of calamities, our water systems are always affected, especially in these areas.)

(There are people who die because of cholera. If it is not cured, patients will suffer from severe dehydration, especially if they are immunocompromised or are vulnerable.)

Just as cholera is spread through dirty water so is diarrhea which remains a deadly problem throughout the Philippines.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/08/6-die-from-diarrhea-caused-by-bad-water-in-dumagat-tribe-in-quezon/

Six members of the Dumagat tribe here have died from diarrhea reportedly as a result of water contaminated after the onslaught of super typhoon “Karding.”

The Department of Health (DOH)-Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon area) and the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) are investigating the outbreak that has affected a total of 38 individuals from Sept. 26 to Oct. 6 in Barangay Upper Lumutan.

“The DOH is saddened by what happened to our Dumagat natives where many have lost their lives because they were not immediately diagnosed and taken to our primary health care facility,” DOH-Region 4-A Director Ariel I. Valencia said.

“Rest assured that we are working closely with IPHO through our RESU to provide the necessary assistance in the affected barangay,” Valencia added.

Though these deaths may be related to the typhoon it is a fact that deadly diarrhea outbreaks remain a health concern in the Philippines. 

Last but not least infant mortality has increased. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1683444/psa-logs-higher-infant-mortality-rates-popcom-says-its-due-to-lack-of-healthcare-access

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) logged a slight increase in infant mortality rate this year, which the population commission attributed to a lack of access to healthcare facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on the PSA data, the said number of fatalities classified under “other direct obstetric deaths,” has increased in the first six months of 2022 at 468 compared to 425 in the same period last year.

The said fatality rose in the ranking of causes of death from 44th in 2021 to 39th in 2022, according to PSA.

Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) officer in charge Lolito Tacardon said “this condition indicates an issue in accessing appropriate, quality, and timely services from healthcare facilities.”

“It poses the challenge to improve our local health system for emergency obstetric and newborn care, which was definitely affected during the pandemic.

“Our health system should now be slowly recovering from the deluge of cases caused by the pandemic to ensure adequate services for other health concerns such as those related to maternal, infant, and child health,” Tacardon also said.

That last sentence says it all. After two years the Philippines should be recovering and shifting its focus to ensuring normal, regular healthcare especially for maternal and infant health. An official DOH secretary is necessary to lead the charge and not merely an OIC. 

There is no justifiable excuse for Marcos to refrain from appointing a DOH Secretary until the COVID situation normalizes while the nation is plagued by many and very serious health problems. It is unconscionable and shows Marcos' callous indifference towards the very people who elected him president. 

Davao City Refuses to Enforce Health Ordinances

A recent diarrhea outbreak occurred in Davao killing six people and causing others to be hospitalized. The outbreak was traced to mishandling of food. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180656

The culprit of the diarrhea outbreak in Toril district here was due to food contamination, the City Health Office (CHO) said Friday.

“I announce that the diarrhea outbreak was due to a foodborne microorganism, with Vibrio cholera as the pathogen of concern. The most likely vehicle of transmission is contaminated food,” CHO acting chief Dr. Ashley Lopez said.

At least six infected persons died from the virus outbreak in Toril that began on July 15.

Lopez said a male patient was the latest fatality of the outbreak who died on July 24.

Rectal swabs done on the affected cases showed that 60 percent turned out positive in the bacteriological culture testing, he added.

Based on the CHO investigation, he said diarrhea patient cases have gone down to 217 cases as others that were previously recorded were not related to the outbreak.

Of the figure, 163 or 75 percent of the admitted cases have recovered.

“There are now only 11 individuals remaining, or 5 percent of the total affected cases in the hospitals being treated. Twenty-six cases were treated in the outpatient department of hospitals, while 11 other cases are still for verification,” he said.

Of all those infected, 41 percent had episodes of eating and drinking at food stalls in Rasay Street in Toril, while 21 percent of the cases ate and drank at the district’s public market.

The remaining 38 percent are from multiple sources but are statistically insignificant to be considered as exposure for cases.

“Based on investigations, food may have been contaminated during preparation and handling by infected handlers. It was also found that proper storage, delayed serving, and unsanitary environment may have contributed to the food contamination because of exposure to elements,” Lopez said.

Meanwhile, Toril Police Station Police chief Maj. Carol Jabagat said the city will not file any charges against the street vendors.  

However, a policy will be released that will serve as the guidelines for the food establishments, she said.

Six people are dead and hundreds of others have been incapacitated due to the mishandling of food and the PNP says the city will not filing charges against any of the vendors. However, Mayor Duterte is singing a different tune.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1180629

Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte vowed to hold accountable the culprits behind the diarrhea outbreak in Toril District here that killed six people, saying the city may pursue charges.

“People have lost their lives just because of mishandling of food. I hope that you have put yourselves in the situation of the victims,” Duterte told reporters Thursday.

However, the mayor said he was disappointed by reports that families of the victims are not keen on pressing charges against the culprits.

“I told them if they decide to press charges, I will accompany them. However, the family said they would rather not,” he said.

“That is what I want,” he added when asked whether the city government will file charges instead.

Following the outbreak, Duterte said the local government will enforce additional policies for street food vendors before they are allowed to operate.

“I have already tasked the barangays and CHO to coordinate. Having a health card is only one of the requirements, there will be more. We cannot allow this to happen again. It is unacceptable,” he said.

Based on investigations, food may have been contaminated during preparation and handling.

It was also found that proper storage, delayed serving, and an unsanitary environment may have contributed to the food contamination because of exposure to elements.

By all means the city should charge these vendors for violating existing health ordinances. That Duterte asked the victims if they wanted to press charges is beside the point. It does not matter what the victims want. These vendors did not follow existing ordinances and six people are dead as a result. Did the Mayor ask the deceased victims if they wanted to press charges? What good is having laws if the city will not punish those who violate them? Once again this situation shows how ultimately the Philippines is a lawless nation. 

Universal Healthcare is a Fake Duterte Accomplishment

In these last few weeks of the Duterte administration the public is being treated to a hagiography of Rodrigo Duterte. Specifically Duterte's men keep repeating a list of his accomplishments. One of these accomplishments is universal health care. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1604050/2-day-legacy-summit-wraps-up-duterte-admin-achievements

One month before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from office, members of his Cabinet and other government officials gather on Monday for a two-day summit showcasing his administration’s achievements and accomplishments that changed the lives of Filipinos.

The “Duterte Legacy Summit” at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City wraps up a two-year information drive by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), through its Office of the Global Media and Public Affairs.

The summit features some of the “realized” key campaign promises of the Duterte administration such as the Universal Health Care Law and Malasakit Center, Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, Bangsamoro Organic Law, the anti-illegal drugs campaign and migrant workers’ protection.

But wait a minute. It turns out that universal health care was not actually realized under the Duterte administration.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/05/10/2180167/next-admin-should-focus-implementation-universal-health-care-doh

The Department of Health said the next administration should focus on the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act, which seeks to expand people’s access to health services.

In a briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency will brief President Rodrigo Duterte’s successor on its strategies for the implementation of the UHC Act, which was signed into law in 2019.  

(When the pandemic started, what we were doing for UHC was temporarily delayed. But it became an opportunity for all of us. We realized toward the end that what we're doing during the pandemic were all attuned to the implementation strategies of UHC.)

The department will also provide the country’s next leaders with its plans for moving forward from the pandemic which is “to live with the virus.”

Universal health care was signed into law but never implemented? Then how did online cockfighting fund it?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1170051

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday said e-sabong or online cockfighting in the country contributes to revenue that can be used to fund the government’s Universal Health Care (UHC) program.

In a speech in Palo, Leyte, Duterte reiterated that the government has earned over PHP640 million monthly since January from the online gambling activity.

“E-sabong gives the government PHP642 million a month. In one year, it gives the government billions,” he said.

Aside from providing funding for hospitals and medicine, he said revenues generated from e-sabong can also be used for education and infrastructure.

Duterte said temporarily closing down the businesses of operators without any violations would be unfair.

“It's not the fault of the management...it's the fault of evil men doing something wrong,” he added.

It did not. Not only was universal healthcare not implemented but the taxes from online cockfighting were never collected. 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/03/21/bir-pagcor-failed-to-get-taxes-from-e-sabong-operations-tolentino/

Senator Francis Tolentino on Monday, March 21 chided the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for allegedly failing to withhold the 20 percent tax from the winning profits of online cockfighting (“e-sabong”) operations.

“(It appears that the government doesn’t receive any taxes from the e-sabong industry, unlike, listen BIR, in sweepstakes winnings. In Lotto operations, they get taxes when one wins, right? Even in horse winning. But why is there no tax being taken from e-sabong?)” Tolentino asked during a Senate inquiry on the mysterious disappearances of 34 cockfighting aficionados.

The lawmaker also found that the government earnings from the e-sabong industry, which has been operating for about two years, only came from the regulatory fee being collected by PAGCOR from license operators on every match. A regulatory fee costs only P12,500 per match or “sultada”.

“We are in a state of disarray by letting go of a big amount that should have gone to the coffers of government and used as ‘ayuda’ for drivers, farmers and fisherfolks,” Tolentino said after also finding out that some e-sabong operations only remitted a scant amount of fee from the billions of pesos they would earn monthly.

What more needs to be said? Universal health care was neither implemented nor funded during Duterte's term. He signed the bill on February 20, 2019 which means there was plenty of time between then and now to implement the law. But it was not done. That makes universal healthcare a fake Duterte accomplishment.