Hospitals already turning away dengue patients?
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DoH) is closely monitoring hospitals across the country amid reports that some are already turning away suspected dengue patients because of overcrowding.
In an interview with ANC’s Headstart, Dr. Eric Tayag said “it’s possible that patients will be turned [away]. We want to assure people that if the doctor says you can start on home treatment, be confident that [there is close monitoring of the disease].”
Tayag is the head of the DoH-National Epidemiology Center
In a command conference last week, Health Secretary Enrique Ona actually called on local governments to be more involved in the campaign in order to prevent overcrowding in hospitals.
“It all starts at the local government…The health centers should be the express lanes. They should determine if they should send home the patient or advise him or her to go to hospital,” he said.
He said hospitals also don’t have to admit all patients due to lack of beds.
He noted that parents and individuals should not feel helpless if this happens. He reminded them the government’s campaign strategy in monitoring the disease:
D- daily monitoring of patient's status
E- encouraging intake of oral fluids
N- note for any warnings or signals (persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, restlessness, irritability, platelet count, bloated abdomen)
G- give paracetamol to bring down fever (avoid aspirin)
U- use mosquitoe screens, insect sprays, repellant
E- early consultation is advised if you have doubts
Race against time
As of posting, health officials were having a press conference in Malacañang today, Wednesday, to present new figures to the public.
“[This means] that [the gravity of the situation] has caught the attention of [President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III]. It’s about time that dengue takes center stage. This requires the cooperation of everyone,” Tayag said.
Based on available records, DoH said that dengue cases in the country grew by 75% to 54,659 from January to August 14 last year. A total of 429 deaths have been recorded.
The DoH fears that the number will still increase to 80,000 before the end of 2010.
“If the trends are right, we might expect 800 deaths [total]. We want to make sure [to prevent that],” Tayag said.
He reiterated that prevention is always key, starting from the elimination of the breeding habitats of these dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Tawa-tawa plant as cure?
Meanwhile, the DoH is also checking the use of the tawa-tawa leaf as cure for dengue.
Tawa-tawa or gatas-gatas is scientifically known as euphorbia hirta.
“We’ve heard about anecdotal reports…these made us think about it,” he said. “We’re going to investigate if it indeed helps improve the blood platelets.”
Tayag, however, noted that the supposed effects of the plant, used in tea, “is because of the oral fluid intake.”
Nonetheless, an individual should not be secure of the effects of tawa-tawa.
“It’s a double-edged sword…If you’re too confident…you might fail to monitor the warning signs of dengue. It might give you a false sense of security,” he said.
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DENGUE CURE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER- CAMOTE
I was in a meeting in Manila recently with other Napolcom officials. While
waiting for my flight back to Cebu , I happened to talk with friends. The
conversation eventually turned to dengue. Some of their statements shocked me.
I called up the persons concerned and they confirmed these revelations.
Computer technician Wenceslao Salesale Jr., 27, was downed by dengue. His
platelet count plunged from 180 to 80. He was rushed by ambulance from
Novaliches to Manila . Inside the ambulance, a relative, acting upon the advice
of a missionary priest, made him drink soup made from camote tops. The
following day, his platelet count was normal.
Dengue attacked the 7-year-old daughter of engineers Mar and Lita Budlongan of
Kaloocan City . Her platelet count read 80. The same treatment was used. The
following day she was back to normal.
The 15-year-old daughter of businessman Nepomuceno Salaga of Sampaloc, Manila
had a dangerous platelet count of 80 due to dengue. The same treatment was
followed. The following day she was back in school.
I asked a doctor of medicine about herbal cures and he said that many, if not
most, medicines come from plants. He also said that under the Hippocratic Oath,
doctors are bound encourage anything that can cure a patient.
Research
We need not do research deep in the rainforests of the Amazon or venture into
the ocean depths in search of the elusive cure for dengue. It is right there in
the backyard.
The following information is from Wikipedia:
"In 1992, the Center for Science in the Public Interest compared the nutritional
value of sweet potatoes to other vegetables. Considering fiber content, complex
carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron and calcium, the sweet potato
ranked highest in nutritional value. According to these criteria, sweet
potatoes earned 184 points, 100 points over the next on the list, the common
potato (NCSPC)."
"...Sweet potato tops are excellent sources of antioxidative compounds, mainly
polyphenolics, which may protect the human body from oxidative stress that is
associated with many diseases including cancer ad cardiovascular diseases.
Sweet potato greens have the highest content of total polyphenolics among other
commercial vegetables studied.
"Sweet potatoes contain protein, dietary fiber, lipid, and essential minerals
and nutrients such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium,
sulfur, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, aluminum and boron. Sweet potatoes are
also important sources of vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and ascorbic
acid."
Camote
In the case of Salaga, he bought five sheaves (bugkos/ bigkis) of camote
cuttings. Each sheaf consists of about 12 cuttings. Each cutting measures about
one foot. A sheaf costs about P5.
Camote tops are boiled in water to extract the juice. The boiling lasts for
about five minutes. A little salt is used to give flavor to it. The patient is
made to drink slowly and gradually. The body's immunity system is thus revived,
making dengue helpless against the body's natural defenses. Camote enables the
body to heal itself.
Now you know why I earlier said that my friends' revelations shocked me.
They were shocking because people are needlessly dying all around us from
dengue, while their very cure is also all around us.
In the past, many were fond of using the derogatory statement, "Go home and
plant camote." Now, camote is big news. It can save lives. What could be bigger
than that?
So, to fortify your family against dengue, "Go home and plant camote!"
DENGUE CURE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER- CAMOTE
I was in a meeting in Manila recently with other Napolcom officials. While
waiting for my flight back to Cebu , I happened to talk with friends. The
conversation eventually turned to dengue. Some of their statements shocked me.
I called up the persons concerned and they confirmed these revelations.
Computer technician Wenceslao Salesale Jr., 27, was downed by dengue. His
platelet count plunged from 180 to 80. He was rushed by ambulance from
Novaliches to Manila . Inside the ambulance, a relative, acting upon the advice
of a missionary priest, made him drink soup made from camote tops. The
following day, his platelet count was normal.
Dengue attacked the 7-year-old daughter of engineers Mar and Lita Budlongan of
Kaloocan City . Her platelet count read 80. The same treatment was used. The
following day she was back to normal.
The 15-year-old daughter of businessman Nepomuceno Salaga of Sampaloc, Manila
had a dangerous platelet count of 80 due to dengue. The same treatment was
followed. The following day she was back in school.
I asked a doctor of medicine about herbal cures and he said that many, if not
most, medicines come from plants. He also said that under the Hippocratic Oath,
doctors are bound encourage anything that can cure a patient.
Research
We need not do research deep in the rainforests of the Amazon or venture into
the ocean depths in search of the elusive cure for dengue. It is right there in
the backyard.
The following information is from Wikipedia:
"In 1992, the Center for Science in the Public Interest compared the nutritional
value of sweet potatoes to other vegetables. Considering fiber content, complex
carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron and calcium, the sweet potato
ranked highest in nutritional value. According to these criteria, sweet
potatoes earned 184 points, 100 points over the next on the list, the common
potato (NCSPC)."
"...Sweet potato tops are excellent sources of antioxidative compounds, mainly
polyphenolics, which may protect the human body from oxidative stress that is
associated with many diseases including cancer ad cardiovascular diseases.
Sweet potato greens have the highest content of total polyphenolics among other
commercial vegetables studied.
"Sweet potatoes contain protein, dietary fiber, lipid, and essential minerals
and nutrients such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium,
sulfur, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, aluminum and boron. Sweet potatoes are
also important sources of vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and ascorbic
acid."
Camote
In the case of Salaga, he bought five sheaves (bugkos/ bigkis) of camote
cuttings. Each sheaf consists of about 12 cuttings. Each cutting measures about
one foot. A sheaf costs about P5.
Camote tops are boiled in water to extract the juice. The boiling lasts for
about five minutes. A little salt is used to give flavor to it. The patient is
made to drink slowly and gradually. The body's immunity system is thus revived,
making dengue helpless against the body's natural defenses. Camote enables the
body to heal itself.
Now you know why I earlier said that my friends' revelations shocked me.
They were shocking because people are needlessly dying all around us from
dengue, while their very cure is also all around us.
In the past, many were fond of using the derogatory statement, "Go home and
plant camote." Now, camote is big news. It can save lives. What could be bigger
than that?
So, to fortify your family against dengue, "Go home and plant camote!"