MASANTOL – The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) yesterday disclosed that the drinking water coming from deep wells in the eight coastal villages here was proved to be contaminated with Coliform and Escherichia colai bacteria.
Dr. Mike Aragon, PMA chairman on media affairs, said their group has initiated water sampling testing in the isolated villages as there were reports diarrhea cases in the localities.
He added, the water samples were brought to the central office of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) to determine whether or not the same is still safety for drinking.
Among the affected villages are; Sapang Kawayan, Nigui , Sagrada Familia, Bagan, Balibago, Alauli, Baco and Iscundo.
As this developed, PMA officials advised residents to boil first the water before drinking. They have also distributed water purifying solution to ensure that their health is not compromised.
Nigui village Chief Barnardo Yumang, meanwhile, in a recent interview, told Sun Star, that his local health workers have recorded diarrhea cases involving children.
Doctors on boats
The PMA’s Doctors on Boats has conducted a medical mission in the affected villages here benefiting at least 3,000 residents.
The PMA Doctors on Boats program was first implemented during the onslaught of typhoon “Ondoy” in 2009 where medical doctors with psycho-social counselors braved the floods and boarded boats to do house to house calls in areas that is inaccessible to land transportation bringing with them vital medicines, relief goods, and drinking water to families trapped in their respective houses.
The medical mission was participated in by 100 PMA member-doctors who conducted a house to house medical call to arrest increasing incidence of skin infections, diarrhea and acute upper respiratory tract infection.
The first leg of the PMA’s Doctors on Boats was held last week in Bulacan and served 1500 patients and distributed 3000 bags of relief goods plus safe drinking water to flood victims in unserved and underwater areas in Hagonoy, Paombong and Calumpit.