If you’ve visited an evacuation center, you’ll know how huge sanitation problems are. There are not enough toilet facilities and, because most evacuation centers are public elementary and high schools, we can safely assume that they have even fewer shower facilities. That’s why sanitation is always a big issue in the aftermath of any calamity and disease breakout in evacuation centers is not uncommon. Evacuees are forced to live in cramped conditions where they have limited access to toilet and bath facilities. With the shortage of volunteers to feed the evacuees, I can’t imagine how the few toilets can be cleaned with regularity.
Out on the streets, uncollected garbage is making things even worse.
Speedy took these photos yesterday along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City.
He said there were policemen shoveling the garbage in some areas but they aren’t enough to clean every street. And if you think those photos depict a terrible situation, Speedy says it’s much, much worse in Marikina.
Then, there’s the problem of bacteria in the flood waters.
In Twitter, Yuga posted that a 22-year-old nurse in his uncle’s staff just died of Leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a water-related infection known as canicola fever, hemorrhagic jaundice, infectious jaundice, mud fever, spirochetal jaundice, swamp fever, swineherd’s disease, caver’s flu or sewerman’s flu. From The Leptospirosis Information Center:
All cases of freshwater flooding will lead to an increased risk of human leptospirosis, especially those where the areas affected include dwellings and farmland, and where the water remains present for several days. This is also the case with other waterborne diseases and pathogens…
The primary concerns following flooding are the provision of clean drinking water and prevention of disease. Flooding will always impact on drainage and water supplies, leading to cross-contamination and loss of supply integrity. In remote areas, this can lead to the use of contaminated supplies as the only option…
The infection is caused by swallowing the bacteria directly from water, absorbing it through cuts in the skin, or via food. IT IS NOT AIRBORNE and cannot be passed by normal human contact…
The early signs of infection occur between 4 and 10 days after exposure, and usually begin with a fever, a red skin rash and a general influenza-like feeling. Headaches, reaction to light, muscle and joint pains, vomiting and fatigue are also common. Most cases recover after a mild illness of a few days, but some progress into a severe illness over 5-7 days. The patient gradually becomes more fatigued and will report headaches, fevers, generalised pain, bruising of the skin, bleeding from the nose, eye pain and gastrointestinal discomfort. In some but not all cases, the liver is affected and the patient shows jaundice (yellow skin pigment)…
The problems brought by Ondoy are far from over. And in the areas on Pepeng’s path, they’re only just beginning.
i remember this report on tv during the opening of classes that public schools generally don’t have enough toilets. there’s this image of a line of student snaking out and around the cr area during recess. but now, evacuees are probably having it worse.
i commend the overwhelming spirit of volunteerism but i think the donation collection and distribution are often the ‘easier’ tasks. sanitation and garbage collection after the consumption are the trickier jobs. i have this image of more plastic bags, bottles, wrappers ending up in the drainage system which further increases the possibility of more flooding even if it doesn’t rain that hard.
i wonder if the lgu’s or national agencies or the donating organizations have broader, long-term plans to deal with that.
Yes, easy for anyone to donate packs of instant noodles and boxes of canned goods but who’s asking how the garbage is being disposed of, right?
Bottled water! We need more bottled water!
And wetsuits! We need more water-tight wet suits!
*cocks an eyebrow*
Ms. Connie, this is the reason why I was shaken by the thought that the flood in our house will last until December.
I heard over the radio yesterday that evacuees are now being given portalets. Salamat naman. I can just imagine how difficult their lives are right now.
Lemon, I read that when the waters recede, you should spray disinfectant all over your house not only to kill bacteria but to prevent mold from forming.
Yes, Ms Connie. I was completely naive to hope that after a few days, the waters would subside, so I already bought Lysol and other cleaning materials. I have also printed tips from an experienced flood victim, dapat daw aside from brushing everything like there’s no tomorrow, we should dry them for 3 days. Hay, iniisip ko pa lang, pagod na ako. But then, I would give anything basta humupa lang at makauwi na kami.
Leptospirosis — a friend told me (parang kwentong barbero) her friend died within the day after contracting this from the flood waters. May maliit na sugat daw na na-infect & almost immediately daw nag-bleeding na.