Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p080709.htm&no=63
Basilan feels vulnerable to bird flu
By Rene V. Carbayas
Isabela City de Basilan (9 July) -- Basilan is helpless when Avian Influenza (bird flu) strikes in Basilan today. This is the assessment of the inter-agency participants during the provincial Avian Influenza (AI) Task Force meeting last July 3 at the Querexeta Formation center.
Poor or no local government unit support, the lack of mobilization funds from concerned agencies, lack of facilities, and poor social/issue awareness of the people, and open coastlines are among the factors that placed Basilan at high risk on bird flu attack, Provincial Veterinarian Surhayda T. Aguisanda lamented.
Dr. Aguisanda said that while there is budget allocation from ARMM, logistical support is not assured. She is also wary about the support from the local chief executives in Basilan, who since 2003 are not showing any interest on the issue and the possibility of logistical support. Although she admitted that the agency might have failed in lobbying for their support but is saddened of the LCE's non-attendance in meetings called for the purpose.
Nevertheless, Dr. Aguisanda said "we are not taking things easy," stressing that it is better to prepare in any eventualities, concerning bird flu; specially when Basilan was not identified as high risk for AI.
With the help of SHIELD during a series of workshops for AI, however, Basilan has been included as one of the areas with high risk for AI.
The draft provincial AI plan noted that the province is considered a high risk area taking into consideration that all municipalities including the cities of Isabela and Lamitan have wharves, coastal and mangrove areas wherein migratory birds have been sighted plus its long coastline and proximity to neighboring countries with AI cases like Indonesia and likewise; smuggling routes of poultry products and undocumented individuals.
Dr. Aguisanda revealed that the province does not have facilities that are equipped to address AI-related cases that include quarantine checkpoints and quarantine personnel and protective equipment for personnel are very, very limited. Not even the presence of an ordinance in any municipality that would support it exists.
The draft plan noted that district hospitals and even rural health personnel, local officials, personnel from concerned agencies are not even trained or equipped with right knowledge on avian influenza.
There is no existing early warning/reporting system in place for the whole province except the one introduced during the IEC campaign in 2006 at the city of Lamitan that includes 3 barangays, the report said.
Aguisanda reported that in the past two years, there were AI-related activities conducted such as information dissemination, disease monitoring surveillance that includes blood sampling, cloacal and tracheal swabs and avian population survey in all barangays in the province with the objective of identifying high risk poultry population.
To date, there has been no areas in Basilan that is definitely been identified as high risk for AI due to the lack of data from concerned agencies. The DENR representative lamented that they do not even have MOOE to fund their local operations.
The Office of the Provincial Veterinary and Department of Agriculture in partnership with SHIELD is conducting AI orientation in the province targeting first the community-based health organizations that are recognized as key partners in the AI prevention and control.
The meeting was initiated by the Sustainable Health Improvements through Empowerment and Local Development (SHIELD) Program in Basilan, headed by its project manager Dr. Alvin Saplan.
Saplan said that SHIELD focuses on health and operates on three areas: community partnership, LGU support, and health system development. He stressed that the program is more on prevention than cure.
Moreover, he confirmed that it is very difficult to get the support of the LGUs. The program is also working in partnership with the Provincial Health Office, while lamenting on the decline of health workers in the province. (PIA-BASULTA) [top]
Basilan feels vulnerable to bird flu
By Rene V. Carbayas
Isabela City de Basilan (9 July) -- Basilan is helpless when Avian Influenza (bird flu) strikes in Basilan today. This is the assessment of the inter-agency participants during the provincial Avian Influenza (AI) Task Force meeting last July 3 at the Querexeta Formation center.
Poor or no local government unit support, the lack of mobilization funds from concerned agencies, lack of facilities, and poor social/issue awareness of the people, and open coastlines are among the factors that placed Basilan at high risk on bird flu attack, Provincial Veterinarian Surhayda T. Aguisanda lamented.
Dr. Aguisanda said that while there is budget allocation from ARMM, logistical support is not assured. She is also wary about the support from the local chief executives in Basilan, who since 2003 are not showing any interest on the issue and the possibility of logistical support. Although she admitted that the agency might have failed in lobbying for their support but is saddened of the LCE's non-attendance in meetings called for the purpose.
Nevertheless, Dr. Aguisanda said "we are not taking things easy," stressing that it is better to prepare in any eventualities, concerning bird flu; specially when Basilan was not identified as high risk for AI.
With the help of SHIELD during a series of workshops for AI, however, Basilan has been included as one of the areas with high risk for AI.
The draft provincial AI plan noted that the province is considered a high risk area taking into consideration that all municipalities including the cities of Isabela and Lamitan have wharves, coastal and mangrove areas wherein migratory birds have been sighted plus its long coastline and proximity to neighboring countries with AI cases like Indonesia and likewise; smuggling routes of poultry products and undocumented individuals.
Dr. Aguisanda revealed that the province does not have facilities that are equipped to address AI-related cases that include quarantine checkpoints and quarantine personnel and protective equipment for personnel are very, very limited. Not even the presence of an ordinance in any municipality that would support it exists.
The draft plan noted that district hospitals and even rural health personnel, local officials, personnel from concerned agencies are not even trained or equipped with right knowledge on avian influenza.
There is no existing early warning/reporting system in place for the whole province except the one introduced during the IEC campaign in 2006 at the city of Lamitan that includes 3 barangays, the report said.
Aguisanda reported that in the past two years, there were AI-related activities conducted such as information dissemination, disease monitoring surveillance that includes blood sampling, cloacal and tracheal swabs and avian population survey in all barangays in the province with the objective of identifying high risk poultry population.
To date, there has been no areas in Basilan that is definitely been identified as high risk for AI due to the lack of data from concerned agencies. The DENR representative lamented that they do not even have MOOE to fund their local operations.
The Office of the Provincial Veterinary and Department of Agriculture in partnership with SHIELD is conducting AI orientation in the province targeting first the community-based health organizations that are recognized as key partners in the AI prevention and control.
The meeting was initiated by the Sustainable Health Improvements through Empowerment and Local Development (SHIELD) Program in Basilan, headed by its project manager Dr. Alvin Saplan.
Saplan said that SHIELD focuses on health and operates on three areas: community partnership, LGU support, and health system development. He stressed that the program is more on prevention than cure.
Moreover, he confirmed that it is very difficult to get the support of the LGUs. The program is also working in partnership with the Provincial Health Office, while lamenting on the decline of health workers in the province. (PIA-BASULTA) [top]