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[av_heading heading=’DOH starts campaign against firecrackers’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – It’s never too early to start the campaign against the use of firecrackers this holiday season, according to the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6.
The regional office has kicked off its Iwas Paputok Awareness Campaign. Its goal is to minimize if not totally eradicate firecracker-related injuries this month as Ilonggos celebrate Christmas and welcome the New Year.
“The good news is that the number of cases has been decreasing from 2014 and 2015. People are now aware about the hazards and this year we are really advocating for the prohibition of individual and residential use of firecrackers,” said Dr. May Ann Sta. Lucia, DOH-6 regional coordinator for Violence and Injury Prevention Program (VIPP).
The awareness campaign specifically targets children aged 10 to 14 years old. They are mostly the victims of firecracker-related injuries, said Sta. Lucia.
But the drive also aimed to educate parents, teachers and local chief executives (LCEs) about the dangers of firecrackers. Region 6 is second to the National Capital Region (NCR) in terms of firecracker-related injuries, said Sta. Lucia.
In 2015, DOH recorded 932 cases of firecracker-related injuries in the region – eight percent higher than the cases in 2014 but four percent lower than the five-year average.
Meanwhile, the town of Janiuay, Iloilo has been chosen as host of this year’s national simultaneous launching of the campaign “Oplan: Iwas Paputok, Fireworks Display ang Patok! Makiisa sa Fireworks Display sa Inyong Lugar.”
DOH is batting for community fireworks displays that are safer compared to individual or residential setting of firecrackers to celebrate the holidays.
“We have invited 100 participants to witness the community fireworks display, the mayors, as well as coordinators of VIPP from different provinces,” said Sta. Lucia.
The launching will be held on Dec. 12 simultaneous with the launching in other areas (National Capital Region and Region 1 for Luzon, Region 7 for Visayas and Region 12 for Mindanao).
A 40-minute fireworks display will highlight the campaign. It will set the tone for the proposed community-based fireworks display, said Sta. Lucia.
“Local chief executives are enjoined to hold fireworks displays in their respective cities and municipalities and invite their constituents to witness these instead of resorting to firecrackers,” said Sta. Lucia.
DOH also advocates the use of torotot instead of firecrackers as holiday noisemakers.
The DOH surveillance for firecracker-related incidents will start Dec. 21 and end on Jan. 5. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
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