Hospitals on Code White Due to Flooding
Hospitals and health facilities across Negros Occidental have been placed on Code White, signaling a heightened alert due to heavy rains and widespread flooding. Local officials reported that the early activation of this alert aims to prepare medical centers for the expected surge in health concerns caused by the ongoing weather conditions.
Dr. Girlie Pinongan, the provincial health officer, explained that all health institutions in Negros Occidental have been on high alert since Thursday. This response comes as the southwest monsoon and Tropical Depression Crising continue to bring heavy rains, which are forecasted to persist through Friday.
Urgent Evacuations and Health Precautions
Residents living in flood-prone areas have been urged to evacuate immediately to safer, higher grounds. Dr. Pinongan emphasized the importance of this step to prevent injuries and health emergencies.
Additionally, she advised anyone exposed to floodwaters to visit nearby health centers promptly. There, they can receive doxycycline as a preventive treatment against leptospirosis, a bacterial infection transmitted through contaminated water.
Preventing Waterborne and Vector-Borne Diseases
The public was reminded to take extra precautions against waterborne diseases. “It is best to boil drinking water to avoid illnesses caused by flooding contamination,” Dr. Pinongan stressed.
She highlighted that diseases like typhoid fever, cholera, and leptospirosis are directly linked to water contamination, which poses major risks during flooding events. Moreover, the presence of standing water increases the risk of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and yellow fever because these conditions create breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Healthcare workers and local leaders continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure timely response and support for affected communities.
For more news and updates on hospitals on Code White, visit Filipinokami.com.
