The Department of Health (DOH) Western Visayas Center for Health Development on Friday immediately sent 50,000 capsules of doxycycline to Iloilo City.
“Thank you, DOH, for the encouraging response to our call for additional supply of 50,000 capsules of doxycycline for our residents affected by the flood,” Mayor Raisa Treñas said in a statement.
Treñas on Friday morning appealed for doxycycline donations, citing an “urgent health concern” as the demand for the medicine, which is used in preventing leptospirosis, soared due to flooding in more areas.
“In just seven days (July 18 – 24), around 40,000 individuals have been given at least two capsules of doxycycline,” she said.
The Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center has recorded 93 flooded barangays as of Thursday afternoon. Thirty barangays remained flooded, while waters have already subsided in 63 other villages.
Besides Iloilo City, the DOH also provided 30,000 capsules to the Negros Island Region and 20,000 capsules to Negros Occidental.
Other provincial health offices still have enough inventories, according to the health department. (PNA)
