The war vs swine flu

WE COMMEND President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s order to the Department of Health to provide free medical service to people afflicted with the dreaded swine flu, which first emerged in Mexico and the United States last April.

This, we think, shows the genuine concern of Mrs. Arroyo, now the favorite “punching bag” of militant youth organizations and the political opposition as the May 2010 presidential election approaches, for the health and welfare of the more than 92 million Filipinos.

The World Health Organization had earlier asked health authorities in countries hit by Influenza A (H1N1) virus to give greater emphasis to providing care and reduce emphasis on preventing the spread of the disease.

President Arroyo issued the directive to the DoH, headed by Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, before she left Wednesday, June 17, for a working visit to Japan, saying the medical assistance should include medicines and hospitalization if necessary.

Since assuming the presidency in 2001, the lady Chief Executive has been implementing multi-pronged programs and initiating activities aimed at eradicating corruption, red tape, hunger, poverty, tuberculosis, dengue, flu, hepatitis and other highly-communicable diseases.

Influenza A, unlike the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and avian flu, is characteristically mild. Those found positive for the virus just need to isolate themselves and be managed at home or in health facilities.

Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said the government is prepared for a worst-case scenario, assuring that concerned state agencies are expected to come up with their own contingency plans.

In fact, Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno has directed local government authorities, including barangay officials, to spearhead a massive information dissemination campaign on the symptoms of the infection and measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

In issuing the directive, Puno said that while there is no community level outbreak yet of the dreaded virus, “monitoring and reporting are essential” in the nationwide fight against swine flu.

And if indeed they have the heart for the good health of the Filipino people, many of them poor, government authorities should provide free medical service to the sick at this time of economic hardship.