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Infant from Kanlaon evacuation center dies in hospital

• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

A 9-month-old baby at the evacuation center in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, who was admitted at a nearby government hospital, died on January 25, bringing to two the number of fatalities among the residents affected by last month’s eruption of Kanlaon volcano.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Girlie Pinongan disclosed on Thursday that the 9-month-old victim was suffering from cough and intermittent fever five days prior to his referral to a private doctor, when antibiotics were prescribed.

When the Municipal Health Office of La Castellana realized that the patient was already severely dehydrated, Pinongan said he was referred to the Ignacio Lacson Arroyo Memorial District Hospital in Isabela, Negros Occidental, for treatment, on Jan. 25, where he passed away on the same day.

The patient, a resident of Barangay Cabagnaan, La Castellana, whose family evacuated to the evacuation center following the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon died due to community acquired pneumonia, according to Pinongan.

On December 9 last year, a nine-month-old male infant at the evacuation center, a resident of Brgy. Masulog, La Castellana, also succumbed to cardiopulmonary arrest due to acute gastroenteritis with severe dehydration.

Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II maintained that the Provincial Health Office is on “top of it” (the situation), stressing that they are closely monitoring the health conditions of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The Department of Health Negros Island Region earlier reported that the health situation of IDPs at Kanlaon evacuation centers is currently “manageable,” compared to previous weeks.

What we are now seeing are usual ailments experienced by evacuees, such as colds and cough, as well as fever, which are concerns similar to those usually being referred to rural health units and health centers, Dr. Razzel Nikka Hao, DOH NIR regional director, disclosed on Thursday.

In previous weeks, IDPs have complained of acute respiratory infections, among other illnesses.*

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