DOH urged to make anti-leptospirosis drug available in barangays

FILE: Motorists slowly pass the flooded portion of the Natividad Almeda-Lopez Street in Manila City during a heavy downpour. (PNA photo by Alfred M. Frias)

MANILA – House Deputy Majority leader and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin urged Sunday the Department of Health (DOH) to make anti-leptospirosis drugs readily available in barangays and schools often used as evacuation centers during calamities.

Garin made the call following reports that local government units (LGUs) where areas were gravely affected by the recent onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng are having a hard time securing doxycycline, an antibiotic prophylaxis that prevents infection, as the drugs are stored in regional offices.

“Leptospirosis is a preventable disease, pero ang nangyayari sa atin huli na yung prophylaxis na para sana sa prevention (…but what is happening, prophylaxis which is supposedly for prevention is coming late) Doxycycline should be initiated as soon as possible for it to be effective,” said Garin, who is also a medical doctor.

She said this kind of drug should be given to barangays and schools as a preventive measure against leptospirosis, which usually occurs in dirty flood waters during calamities.

She said while the government has prepared a total of PHP31 million worth of medicines and other supplies, they are, however, could not reach the public sooner since most of them are stored in regional offices.

“When the typhoon hits, roads become impassable, bridges are damaged making it impossible for the LGUs to get the doxycycline supplies. Kaya paano na ma-pickup yung gamot? So nawala na ang importansya nito para sana sa prevention (So how can they get the medicine? We lost the importance of this drug which is supposedly for prevention),” she added.

In her district alone, Garin said it took them six days to get doxycycline for individuals affected by Paeng.

Garin said she was hoping DOH will review its policy on storing drugs like doxycycline since it is vital in preventing leptospirosis during calamities.

“We are proposing a more practical and responsive solution to prevent leptospirosis. We should target zero leptospirosis post-flooding. Hinahabol natin ang (We are after the) protection because leptospirosis easily reaches an irreversible stage. Prevention is still the best,” she said.

Leptospirosis, according to the World Health Organization, is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals. It can occur worldwide but is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, it added.

Human infection happens through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment.