Health

DOH Orientation Kontra Paputok Activities

By Cecille dela Rosa de Lemos

In order to reduce the incidence of firecracker-related injuries during the Holiday Season and in consonance with its present strategy, the Department of Health embarks on the project FOURMULA KONTRA PAPUTOK ACTIVITIES. An orientation meeting was held on October 5, 2007 at DOH-CHD Conference Room, Man-durriao, Iloilo City where the triumvirate of program managers attended: DOH – Aklan representatives Filipina B. Mabasa and Eva A. Taytayon; Nuelia P. Zaldivar, HEPO II, PHO-Aklan.
The agenda of the meeting included information regarding Department Order No. 0160, Republic Act 7183, role clarification, presentation and filing of report forms facilitated by the regional staff.
Department Order No. 0160 refers to the Implementing Guidelines and Mobilization of All Centers for Health Development, DOH Hospitals and Medical Centers for the Fourmula Kontra Paputok Activities. In connection with this guideline, all Center of Health Development Directors and DOH Chiefs of Hospitals are directed to mobilize their respective offices and hospitals to undertake the following activities: Public Information Campaign, Emergency Room Preparedness and Responsiveness, Nationwide Registry Injuries, Tetanus Surveillance, Networking with Other Government Agencies, and Firecrackers Ban on all DOH Facilities.
The orientation meeting aimed to strengthen public information campaign and other advocacy activities especially against the use of watusi and illegal firecrackers, which is prohibited under Republic Act 7183 otherwise known as the Firecracker Law, an Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices. Some examples of illegal firecrackers are pla-pla, super lolo, og, lolo thunder, atomic big triangulo, and watusi. As per Memorandum of the Firearms and Explosives Division-Philippine National Police dated January 17, 2002, watusi is banned from the market.
The surveillance period for fireworks-related injuries, stray bullets, and watusi ingestion victims starts at 6:00 A.M. of December 21, 2007 and ends at 5:59 A.M. of January 5, 2008.
For fireworks-related tetanus victims, the surveillance period starts on December 21, 2007 and ends on January 21, 2008. Fireworks-related tetanus cases hospitalized even after the surveillance period must be reported. /MP