NABUA, Camarines Sur (May 26 2012) - For many poor residents in flood-prone areas of this locality, the cost of potable water that is supplied by the local water district office is no longer affordable so they are forced to source their water from open wells or shallow pump wells.
This dire situation aggravated by prolonged dry season has already resulted in almost a hundred cases of severe diarrhea and 3 deaths from dehydration in the past week.
Nabua Rural Health Office head Stephen A. Beltran reported Friday (May 25) 80 cases of severe diarrhea in the villages of of Sto. Domingo, La Purisima, Sta Cruz and Malawag - all in this town.
The patients are now mostly confined in their homes and those in serious conditions are scattered in hospitals in Nabua and nearby Iriga City.
Municipal Administrative Officer Josefino Rebulado said that Nabua Mayor Delia Castro Simbulan has directed the realease of AICS (Assistance to indigents during crisis situation) for the expenses of her hospitalized constituents and the chlorination of open wells in affected areas.
Dr. Beltran said that afflicted persons often disregard early symptoms of diahrea until life-threatening dehydration sets in, adding that poor garbage disposal aggravates water contamination.
According to Beltran, while the Nabua water district has expanded its network for distributing potable water, many cannot afford to pay their water bills and have to drink from open wells that are proving to be contaminated. (SONNY SALES)