MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) in Calabarzon (Region 4-A) distributed television sets in several evacuation centers to relieve evacuees of emotional and mental stress.
DOH-Calabarzon Regional Director Eduardo Janairo said families temporarily seeking shelter in evacuation centers are suffering from emotional and mental stress while waiting to return to their homes, while others have nothing to go back to due to the damage to their properties caused by the Taal Volcano eruption.
"'Yung sobrang pag-iisip dahil sa nangyaring kalamidad kadalasan (Thinking too much because of the calamity that happened) can cause anxiety disorders and depression," Janairo said in a statement Thursday.
Ten sets of 32-inch LED television were distributed to PUP-Sto. Tomas Campus, Main Evacuation Center Barangay 3; General Malvar Memorial School and Paaralang Elementarya ng San Antonio located in Sto. Tomas City; Pagaspas Elementary School, Pantay Matanda, Pantay Bata and to an evacuation center in Bagumbayan in Tanauan City.
Each of the television sets comes with flash drives containing popular value-laden stories for children, videos for physical fitness and health infomercials promoting proper hygiene, oral health care and other tips in maintaining good health and proper nutrition for preventing the onset and spread of diseases.
“Hindi lang ito (This is not just) for information dissemination, magagamit din ito (these can also be used) for recreation and entertainment pleasure. We will continue to monitor and provide all the needed health services to evacuees and make sure that they receive all the health care they need," Janairo said.
As of January 21, 2020, a total of 35,644 families or 140,614 individuals are residing in 480 evacuation centers in the region, the Regional Health Emergency and Management System reported. (PNA)
