The Department of Health (DOH) has been checking the readiness of hospitals to treat blast injuries, holiday-related injuries, and non-communicable diseases due to the consumption of unhealthy food.

DOH Eastern Visayas Assistant Regional Director Catherine Miral said they have been assessing the preparedness and ability to respond of health facilities this week, days before the holiday revelries.

“We are making sure they are ready to respond to all health emergencies and if they have prepositioned medicines and other supplies. We also check if there are enough doctors to respond to the situation,” Miral told reporters in a press briefing Wednesday.

The region has 51 government-run hospitals and 36 privately managed hospitals located in six provinces.

Meanwhile, the DOH reminded the public to refrain from eating too much sweets, salt, and fats with so many parties and reunions this Yuletide season as part of the “Ligtas Christmas” campaign.

For the first time, the DOH will include the monitoring of illnesses arising from unhealthy diets and holiday-related injuries such as road accidents and even mauling after attending parties, on top of firecracker-related injuries, said Roderick Boyd Cerro, chief of the DOH regional epidemiology and surveillance unit.

“Our campaign this year reminds everyone that there is an associated risk of too much consumption of unhealthy food and driving after drinking alcohol,” Cerro said.

Health facilities are instructed to monitor cases of acute stroke, which occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients.

Another illness is acute coronary syndrome, a group of conditions in which blood flow to the heart decreases.

The two non-communicable diseases are related to the consumption of too much sweets, salt, and fats.

Hospitals are also asked to report admission of bronchial asthma, a heterogeneous disease usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation.

One of the triggering factors of asthma is the inhalation of smoke from firecrackers and fireworks.

The DOH official also urged the public to find alternative ways to make loud noises, such as the use of trumpets, horns, music, and cans instead of igniting firecrackers.

Last year, the region recorded 32 cases of blast injuries, significantly higher than the six cases recorded in 2022.

The rise was expected since it was the first-holiday revelry after the three-year pandemic restrictions. (PNA)