Over 200 hospitalized due to food poisoning in Agusan
AROUND 216 people were hospitalized on Monday night, February 19, due to a food and water-borne illness in Barangay Tandang Sora, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, the Provincial Health Office reported.
As the cause of the health emergency remains under investigation, the Philippine Red Cross’ (PRC) hot meals program in the province was suspended until the completion of the probe as some were pointing fingers at the PRC.
“This is not the time to point fingers, especially since the Philippine Red Cross only wants to help. There is an ongoing investigation. We hope to prevent the same situation from happening in the future,” said Esperanza Mayor Deo Manpatilan Jr. during a press conference on Tuesday, February 20.
The PRC is a humanitarian organization that has been helping the residents affected by flooding due to shear line and trough of low pressure area in Mindanao and it was among several organizations that were serving hot meals in Agusan del Sur.
For its Mindanao operation, PRC has served hot meals to 69,984 individuals; gave out 437 bottles of water; and distributed 372,400 liters of water to 10,902 households or 41,546 individuals.
The organization said it will wait for the results of the ongoing investigation and that it has also coordinated with local government officials to address the needs of the people affected.
According to the PRC Agusan del Sur Chapter, 90 of the patients were already discharged and were provided transportation to their homes as of Tuesday night.
“The welfare of the people is of utmost concern to us, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that every individual taken to the hospital is out of harm’s way at the soonest time,” the PRC said in a statement on Wednesday, February 21.
The PRC has also set up a welfare desk at Esperanza Medicare Community Hospital and provided medicines in response to a request by a hospital.
“Rest assured that PRC supports the investigation. PRC remains transparent and will closely coordinate with the local government on this serious matter,” it added.