SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan – A newly enacted ordinance by the city council enforces a strict no smoking ban inside public utility vehicles.

Ordinance No. 07-08 authored by Councilor Samuel Millora slapped a fine of P200 to the violator and in place of fine, the offender will be forced to render community service for three days of eight hours each.

Approved on February 26, 2008, the ordinance was sought by City Health Officer Dr. Pablo Mondok III.

The ordinance was aimed at protecting citizens who inhale the second hand smoke coming from the smoker inside public utility vehicles.

Records showed that all over the world, many non-smokers are dying by inhaling smokers’ smoke. (PNA)

DAGUPAN CITY -  The Philippine eyes to bring down its high maternal mortality by 2015 as it is one of the nations in Southeast Asia which still ranks high in maternal mortality rate.

This was revealed during the day long observance of the 5^th National Pregnant Women Day held at the CSI Stadia and Jimmy L. Fernandez Center in Dagupan City on March 10.

The national statistics shows there are 200 women dying for every 100,000 births, said Dr. Ellen Manzano, regional director of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) in the Ilocos-Pangasinan region.

She said the statistics also showed that out of 10 deliveries, eight are being delivered outside medical facilities or hospitals.

The observance of the National Pregnant Women Day, in conjunction with the International Women’s Month, was provided for in Proclamation No. 569 issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on March 9, 2004. Read more

Former President Fidel V. Ramos approaching the finish line at Sunday’s 2008 Philippine Marathon for the Pasig River held at Luneta Park, Manila. Intended to boost awareness on the continued efforts to rehabilitate the Pasig River, this 42-kilometer marathon was participated by foreign and local marathoners. The former president’s wife Amelita “Ming” Ramos is the chairman of Clean and Green Foundation. (PDN PHOTO BY ERIC ISAAC)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) are in Pangasinan to monitor pilot sites for the project Safe Water Systems (SWS), an intervention against upsurge of diarrhea, which the United Nations agency co-sponsored with the Department of Health.

Dr. Ana Ma. Theresa de Guzman, assistant provincial health office, said the WHO representatives are set to visit the towns of Basista , Bayambang, Sta. Barbara, Bolinao and San Carlos City, chosen pilot sites for SWS.

The WHO-DOH project is being waged for one year now in these pilot sites with the use of hypo-sol solution produced by an accredited manufacturer from Sta. Barbara, Dr. Rocky Doctor. Read more

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Malaris is now under control in Pangasinan with only 11 persons afflicted by the disease last year, a report of the Provincial Health Office on Tuesday stated.

Dr. Ana Ma. Theresa de Guzman, assistant provincial health officer, said records show that those afflicted came from only four towns that are still affected by malaria, namely Infanta, Mabini, Aguilar and Mangatarem, all in the western part of the province.

The province of Pangasinan comprises 44 towns and four cities.

“Actually, malaria is a disease which we can consider s totally controlled in Pangasinan as of today,” Dr. De Guzman said.

She said there are two kinds of malaria – the falcicarum malaria and the plasmodium malaria, such as the type found in the province of Palawan before. Read more

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – A total of 68 suspected cases of dengue fever had already been recorded in Pangasinan from January to June 25 this year, according to a report of the Provincial Health Office.

Assistant Provincial Health Office Ana Ma. Theresa de Guzman said on Tuesday that on record, two persons already died from all these suspected cases.  These are an eight year old boy from Dasol and another, a 16 year old boy from Lingayen.

De Guzman said there were two deaths due to dengue, although these are yet to be confirmed by the submission of their respective death certificates by the Sacred heart Hospital in Urdaneta City, where they died.

Of the 68 suspected dengue cases registered so far, none of it was confirmed yet, De Guzman said. Read more

DAGUPAN CITY - An official of the city agriculture office appealed to the public here to be extra-careful in their consumption of shellfishes as the advisory on red tide affeting part of the shoreline in Bani, Pangasinan has not yet been lifted.

City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina was referring to the advisory or bulletin issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department of Agriculture dated April 4 this year showing high leverl of toxicity of samples of shellfishes harvested by fishermen from barangay Wawa, Bani. Read more

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Provincial health officials led by Dr. Jackson Soriano, OIC provincial health officer, were elated to learn that one of the top priorities of Dr. Jamie Agbayani if elected governor is further expansion and improvement of the delivery of basic health services to the grassroots.

“We are very glad to hear that because there really are things needed yet to be done in the area of health care delivery, especially with regards to upgrading our hospital facilities and infrastructure and public health programs,” Soriano said.

However, he said, the province has made big strides in the delivery of basic health services and hospital reforms under the administration of Gov. Victor Agbayani. Read more

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – “Our children are God’s greatest gift to humanity.”

With this declaration, Gov. Victor E. Agbayani moved to further strengthen the province’s immunization and vitamin supplementation programs to serve more pre-school and grade-school children, including school drop-outs.

Dr. Jackson Soriano, OIC provincial health officer, said his office and the Pangasinan Nutrition Center are presently conducting Vitamin A supplementation program among grade I pupils in all elementary schools in the province.

The said undertaking is in cooperation with the Department of Education Pangasinan I and II, municipal local government units, municipal nutrition committees and rural health units. Read more

Doctors recommend more sex.
by J. RESTITUTO 

MORE SEX may cure vaginal itching and burning after intercourse.

Women are often allergic to their partners’ semen, and, for some, having more frequent sex can be part of the treatment, according to a  medical authority on allergy.

Symptoms include itching, burning and swelling in the genital area. In the most severe cases, hives or swelling may appear elsewhere on the body and the woman may experience difficulty in breathing.

Most women affected are between age 20 and 30, and almost half (41%) experience the allergy during their first sexual intercourse. Read more