Makati Mayor Jejomar C. Binay today directed the entire city government to activate its A(H1N1) response plan after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed six flu cases, three of them residents while three are non-residents studying in a Makati school.
The City Council has also approved the release of P10 million from the Mayor’s contingency fund to be used in implementing measures to prevent and contain the spread of the disease, including the emergency purchase of needed supplies and medicines
Binay, who spoke during the Gawad Kalinga Global Summit in Boston, advised residents, visitors and guests to remain calm.
“The city government is ready to respond to this situation, and we encourage everyone to do their share by going to the doctor if you develop flu-like symptoms, going on a voluntary self-quarantine, or by observing basic hygienic practices like washing your hands with soap and covering your mouth when you sneeze,” he said.
He also directed the City Health Department to make sure that all hotels, malls, buildings and commercial establishments provide liquid hand soaps in their toilets, and take all steps needed to minimize the spread of the A(H1N1) flu.
Dr. Ma. Lourdes Salud, city health officer, said the city will be distributing surgical masks to the city’s public school students and providing liquid soaps in public schools. Teachers will be asked to regularly remind their students of the importance of basic hygiene. She said the city government is preparing for the emergency purchase of additional supplies like surgical masks, handwashing soaps, gloves and medicines.
Salud said the city will also tap the assistance of owners of malls, hotels and establishments in Makati in the ongoing information drive through the use of their public announcement systems and other communication tools. She said flyers and other information materials have been distributed and posted in highly visible areas in the barangays, schools, health centers, and other public places in the city.
Salud said the DOH has reported six confirmed cases - two residents from San Miguel Village, one from Brgy. Cembo, and three students of Mapua Institute of Technology who are residents of Quezon City. The three residents all sought treatment at the Makati Medical Center, where they were subjected to throat swabs that were subsequently confirmed for A(H1N1) by the Regional Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
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