The Albay provincial government is bracing for a possible rush of health problems brought by overcrowding in evacuation centers, where more than 40,000 residents have taken refuge as the threat of Mayon Volcano's eruption looms. In a statement sent through e-mail Sunday morning, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said cases of cough and colds with fever have been observed among evacuees. Four cases of sore eyes were also recorded in Tabaco City. As of Saturday, about 8,442 families or 40,093 persons have been evacuated since Monday last week from Camalig, Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, Ligao and Guinobatan towns and from the cities of Legazpi and Tabaco. “The cool weather is increasing the risks for colds and other related diseases. Albay authorities keep in mind that the zero-casualty goal can be compromised by health risks in evacuation centers,” Salceda said. About 50,000 face masks and P1.8 million worth of medicines and medical supplies from the Health department would be distributed Sunday, the governor said, adding that the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) would also donate medicines. Salceda said the local government was doing its best to ensure that evacuees have access to clean water and proper sanitation, but some evacuations centers have limited water supply. Only three evacuation centers in Camalig, Daraga and Guinobatan towns have sufficient water supply and facilities such as faucets, water tanks and comfort rooms for men, women and people with disabilities. Aside from medicine, the Unicef has also donated 1,000 units of family water kits and 1,000 community water kits. A water purifying machine that can clean 30,000 liters of water per hour was also set up, but Salceda did not say which town or city was using it. The provincial government had requested the Social Welfare department for 5,000 water jugs. With less than a week before Christmas, Salceda said some evacuees have begun showing signs of “boredom and discomfort.” A team of volunteers from the Health and Social Welfare departments, he said, is crafting a psychosocial care program to help evacuees cope with the situation in evacuation centers. He said Guinobatan Mayor Juan Garcia II had even suggested showing of movies every night at evacuation centers to help displaced residents fight the stress of having to spend the holidays away from home. Salceda also said the government might tap volunteers from the Social Welfare department and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for livelihood and personality development training at evacuation centers.
