MEDICAL CLOWNING FOR VICTIMS OF HAIYAN IN BOGO CITY, CEBU PHILIPPINES

Tents built outside Severo Verallo
Memorial District Hospital in Bogo

International organizations continue to help the victims of typhoon Haiyan in northern Cebu, Philippines.

More than a month ago when the super typhoon Yolanda hit the Central Philippines also called the Visayas region affecting millions of the population.

Many people are still suffering from injuries brought by the devastation and are still recuperating from wounds.

Moshe Twito-medical clown giving a balloon to a patient in Bogo

Outside the Severo Verallo Memorial District Hospital in Bogo City, tents were built by the medical staff from Israel and from Myanmar. They are helping and monitoring illnesses in the affected areas in Cebu.

Records from the Department of Health region seven shows some illnesses affecting victims of Yolanda in northern Cebu. These includes acute respiratory tract infections, open and infected wounds, hypertension, skin diseases and even fever.

Sweet smile from a pupil affected by
typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda

Donors are giving free check-ups and medicines for the patients and to help them recover fast, the Israeli government brought a medical clown to make the patient smile.

Even the guardians of the patients laughed and smiled after seeing the medical clown doing tricks and jokes. 

Laughter is the best medicine for the
children in Bogo after Yolanda

Adam Levene, Deputy Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines said that they have been using medical clowning in Israel for ten years.

The said method is very effective in adults mostly children to recover before medical operations.  

Recovery rate reached 30% higher.

Moshe Twito, the medical clown also visited Bogo Central Elementary School 1 and the pupils laughed out-loud over his tricks.

HELICOPTER CRASHED IN RELIEF OPERATIONS IN LEYTE, PHILIPPINES

photo of UH1H helicopter displayed at
MBEAB, Lapu-Lapu City

Investigation continues after a UH1H helicopter of the Philippine air force made an emergency landing and crashed in the town of La Paz Leyte last Friday afternoon.

According to 2^nd Air Division Commander Major General Romeo Poquiz, the helicopter had 8 passengers including two pilots from the 205^th tactical wing based in Mactan Benito Ebuen Airbase, another two from Department of Social Welfare and Development and the rest were soldiers helping for the   relief operations in typhoon Yolanda affected areas.

Most of the passengers got minor injuries but the main pilot acquired fractured bones on its leg. Injured are still recovering in hospitals after the accident.

Poquiz emphasized that all air assets owned by the Philippines are well maintained and inspected.

Maj.Gen Romeo Poquiz
Commander, 2nd AirDiv,PAF

“They are inspected there is a mandatory inspection there is a mandatory 360 visual inspection and also our pilots are well trained” according to Maj.Gen. 

Poquiz on a press conference headed by the Philippine Information Agency 7 at MIP lounge in Mactan Airport , Lapu-Lapu City.

The official added, even the helicopters were bought second-hand, they buy and change spare parts for the maintenance of the helicopters.

The incident did not affect the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Leyte and Samar and other areas affected by super typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda in the Philippines.

STORM SURGE DANGER ZONES

Hundreds of people living near the coastal areas in Bantayan Island in Cebu Province were told not to go back to their houses.

The local government executives are preventing the people to rebuild their houses near the shore after super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit the three municipalities last December 8, 2013.

The local executives will follow the implementing rules from the, The Department of Environment and Natural Resource’s(DENR), the 40 meter no build zone from the shorelines.

Portion coastline of Sta Fe, Bantayan Island in Cebu Province 

This is to prevent the same eventuality in Tacloban City after storm surge destroyed houses and structures in the area. The unexpected storm surge also killed thousands of people in Tacloban City.

According to Sta. Fe mayor Jose Esgana, the local council agreed to buy lots intended as relocation sites for the families to be relocated.

Out of the ten barangays in the town of Sta Fe, three were identified as coastal barangays. These include Okoy, Maricaban and Talisay.

The LGU will be asking assistance and help from different humanitarian organization, and to other countries for the housing materials for the families affected by the typhoon.

Displaced families in the municipality of Sta. Fe reached 6,226, while in Bantayan reached to 22,687 and 9,577 in Madredejos.

Local executives are asking for the cooperation from their constituents for their own safety.