SENATE Committee on Health Chairperson, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, expressed alarm after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported very high heat index in several parts of the country last Tuesday.
PAGASA said that at least nine areas in the country registered heat index considered as “danger” level already. A heat index ranging from 42 to 51 degrees is considered as “danger” level.
This was exacerbated by the start of the dry season and the ongoing El Niño phenomenon. Heat index in Roxas City hit 44 degrees Celsius while San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, Masbate, Butuan and Iloilo City had heat index of 43 degrees last Tuesday.
Areas with a degree lower were Pili in Camarines Sur, Puerto Princesa City and Pasay City, also on that same day.
“Ayon sa awtoridad, inaasahang tataas pa ang heat index natin sa bansa dahil kakaumpisa pa lang ng ating tag-init. Andyan din ang El Niño na nagdudulot ng mas mainit na temperatura. Kaya mag-ingat po tayo at alagaan ang ating kalusugan,” Go said.
PAGASA expects the heat index to reach as high as 52 degrees or higher, already classified as “extreme danger” level, until May.
“Isang malaking risk dito ay heat stroke, maliban sa heat exhaustion. Upang maiwasan ito, ugaliing uminom ng sapat na tubig at huwag magbabad sa araw hanggang maaari. Proteksyunan natin ang mga bata at matanda,” Go further explained.
Last March 23, a 71-year-old man, known as “Tony”, died after he fell from his motorcycle in Roxas City. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital. The attending doctor said that Tony died of heart attack caused by heat stroke.
Go, Father of the Malasakit Centers program now running six years and had helped more than ten million poor and financially incapacitated Filipinos nationwide, also reminded them to avail of the services of any of the 161 operation Malasakit Centers found around the country should they need medical assistance.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where government agencies providing medical assistance, such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and PhilHealth, are housed under one roof, making it convenient for patients to access such assistance.
“Bawat rehiyon, merong mga Malasakit Centers na. Mula Batanes hanggang Tawi-Tawi, meron po tayong Malasakit Centers. Lapitan lang po ninyo, basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka. Pera naman ninyo ito, ibinabalik lang ng gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng mas mabilis at maginhawang tulong pangkalusugan,” said Go who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service for Filipinos in need.
