TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 26 (PNA) — The Philippine government on Tuesday assisted the Japan Disaster Relief-Self Defense Forces (JDR-SDF) Units in conducting fumigation at the Tacloban City Convention Center, which has temporarily housed hundreds of evacuees of typhoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan).
About 15 men of Japan Self-Defense Forces sanitized the entire evacuation center, visited each and every room designed to prevent the spread of diseases in the aftermath of the deadly typhoon.
Health Assistant Secretary Paulyn Rosell-Ubial, who also assisted the defense teams, said this will be the start of the fumigation in various evacuation centers and hospitals here.
“They will go around the city, in all evacuation centers, hospitals and other populated areas,” Ubial said.
She said while there is still no reported cases of dengue yet, she reminded the evacuees to remain vigilant and to maintain cleanliness in their respective temporary shelters.
“Always protect yourself. Use mosquito nets and always clean your surroundings to protect you from diseases,” she added.
She noted that the top five most common ailments and cases recorded in this city are upper respiratory tract infection, wounds, acute water diarrhea, hypertension and fever.
Ubial, meanwhile, noted that the chemicals used in fumigation are non-toxic and safe.
In an interview, Hirochika Namekawa, deputy director development assistance policy planning division of Japan’s International Cooperation Bureau, said the fumigation is just one of the assistance being given by Japan to the Philippines since the typhoon struck.
Aside from epidemic prevention, Japan has also been helping in transporting relief supplies and conducting medical relief activities.
More than 100 personnel of special defense forces of Japan has been deployed to the Philippines in addition to Japan’s transport assistance such as three CH-47 transport helicopters, three UH-1 utility helicopters, transport vessel “Osumi”, escort vessel “Ise”, supple vessel “Towada”, two KC-767 air tanker, seven C-130 transport aircrafts and U-4 utility support aircraft.
Japan has granted the Philippines a total of US$ 52.1 million in financial and humanitarian assistance. (PNA)