UP Ibalon Bicol: Linkage between poverty and the influenza epidemic

Linkage between poverty and the influenza epidemic

6/20/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

The startling rise of H1N1 flu cases to more than 300 in a matter of days in the Philippines makes Filipinos to look into why this happens. The rapid spread of the illness is easy to understand considering how poor the country is, says the Health Action Information Network (HAIN,) non-government organization (NGO.)

Dr. Delen de la Paz, executive director of HAIN believes the poor Filipinos die early because of lack of nutrition which leave them susceptible to the complications of disease. According to the 2006 Family Income and Expenditure Survey, the poorest 1.7 million families in the Philippines try to make both ends meet with an average budget of P18 per day (less than 50 cents/day.)

A case of point is the worsening flu problem together with other diseases endemic in the country. Dr. de la Paz has this to say:

“Bakit ba nagiging pneumonia ang influenza? It starts with viral infection that is supposed to be self-limiting in seven days. Pero dahil walang pambili ng gamot, nagkakaroon ng secondary bacterial infection. Lumalala na ang sakit pero nagtatrabaho pa rin. Ang sweldo kulang pang pambili ng pagkain, so paano na ang gamot?"----GMA News TV (06/06/09, Sabangan, A R.)

Dr. de la Paz criticizes the government for its superficial handling of the swine flu epidemic. According to her, the Department of Health (DOH) has advised Filipinos to raise body resistance against infection by having at enough sleep and rest, adequate exercise, control stress, have good hydration and eat nutritious foods. But Dr. de la Paz says, this simply can’t be done if one is poor, underpaid, overworked, hungry and malnourished.

In response to the criticism, Yolanda Oliveros, director of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control says the DOH tries to address the problem by campaigning for an increase of the agency’s budget from only P11 billion three years ago to today’s P20 billion---funds most needed to expand medical coverage, purchase more medicines and hospital equipment, and improve the delivery of health services in the country.(Photo Credit: Claude Barutel) =0=

RELATED BLOG: "Politics of Health: Give the flu vaccines to those who need them most" Posted by mesiamd at 6/15/2009

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Labels: Dr. Delen Padilla-de la Paz, epidemic, Filipinos, H1N1 virus, HAIN, Health, Health Action Information Network, immunity, influenza virus, malnutrition, pandemic, poverty, Swine flu, Totie Mesia

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Linkage between poverty and the influenza epidemic

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