Disaster preparedness: Philippine government showing signs of being proactive

Known for being reactive, the Philippine government is showing some signs that it is campaigning before calamities strike.

A flood management plan is being updated and an anti-dengue campaign is being raised months before the rainy season begins.

Plutonium in Fukushima soil detected, What the people say about the triple disasters

The triple calamities that hit Japan on 11 March have so far brought 11,232 deaths and 16,361 people missing as of 10:00, 30 March.

Radioactive particles from the trouble Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant had been reported as far as the United States.

Radiation: Correcting the misinformation, Natural ways reduce your dose

The health effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident and the use of potassium iodide continue to spread fear in the public because of how the information is used. At the best, it appears that reassuring the public is inadequate and what we hear from the media confuses and aggravates the situation in what is supposed to be a well-informed choice of the people.

Earlier, I have posted the proper use of potassium iodide to reduce the load of radioactive particles among those who were contaminated by it—the nuclear workers, and not you who is thousands of kilometers away. Visit this link for details.

Japan: Foreign medics help victims, Road accidents increase, Looting reported

First the good news. Then the bad news.

The Japanese government allowed on Sunday the first foreign medical team to treat victims of the triple disasters—earthquake, tsunami and radiation—in the northeast seaside of the mainland Honshu that killed over 10,000 and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

Japan's law forbids holders of overseas medical licenses to practice medicine within the country but the health ministry lifted the prohibition three days after the disaster occurred on 11 March, The Japan Times said.

Study says 65% of victims in Japan's twin disasters were old people

More than half of the mortalities of the mega earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on 11 March were old people according to calculations based on police records.

According to Yomiuri Shimbun's computations, 65.1 percent of the 2,853 fatalities who were identified as of Wednesday were 60 years old or older.

Japan: More foods banned, Tap water unsafe for kids

UPDATE: Health officials in Japan said on Wednesday that the radioactive iodine (RI) content of tap water in Tokyo was found to be increased twice the upper limit considered safe for babies. The RI level measured 210 becquerels per liter (Bq/L) of iodine-131. The recommended limit for infants is 100 Bq/L of iodine-131.

The public is urged to avoid giving tap water to infants who are sensitive to RI, which may cause thyroid malignancy, in a report by Boston.com.

Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara said, "We advise against using the tap water for drinking and for making infant formula for babies under 1 year old."

However, the RI levels of the tap water does not pose immediate threats to adults. The recommended limit for adults is 300 Bq/L of iodine-131.

More information here.

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The health ministry of Japan advised the public on Wednesday to refrain from eating 11 vegetables produced in Fukushima Prefecture that were found to have higher than normal levels of radioactive materials following a series of explosions on the damaged nuclear plant.

In addition to the earlier indefinite ban on vegetables—spinach and kakina—health ministry officials forbid the consumption of broccoli, cabbages, turnips and other green leafy veggies such as aburana, chijirena, komatsuna, kosaitai, santona andshinobufuyuna for the mean time, in a report by Japan Today. Sorry, I am not familiar with the English translation.

Japan issues food ban for the first time post-nuke blast

An indefinite ban on spinach, kakina--a local green vegetable--and milk produced in Fukushima and nearby prefectures was announced on Monday by Prime Minister Naoto Kan when samples were found to be "hot." This is the first time the government issued a food ban since the Fukushima I nuclear plant exploded a few days ago.

The Japan Times said the ban may cause further public outcry already anxious from the damages brought by the recent powerful temblor and tsunamis, but Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told the people to stay calm.

How do the people in Japan cope after the quake?

More than a week after the most powerful earthquake in Japan's history struck, thousands had already died, displaced and remained missing during the coldest time of the year.

The UK's Save the Children charity estimated that as many as 100,000 children may have been displaced by the quake and tsunami.

The gigantic waves that destroyed the nuclear plant in Fukushima—as claimed by some sources—made the situation worse. The spread of radiation made many people in Japan and abroad worry about its health effects.

Nuclear scare: Over 1,000 Japanese disembark daily in Manila

Following a series of explosions at the Fukushima nuclear power plant last week, authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals have reported the increase in the arrivals of more than 1,000 Japanese citizens everyday.

In a report by the Philippine Star, the said increase in disembarkations came from various flights from Japan after their government raised the alert level to 5. Click here to see INES Alert Level Systems.

Radiation Syndrome: Who should take potassium iodide?

The nuclear scare following the Fukushima accident last week made people all over the world alarmed over the possible health risks it may bring to themselves especially the young ones and pregnant women.

It is understandable to be concerned about the situation but it is important to be equipped with the accurate information to make sound judgment and know the proper action to take if the need arises.

Japan nuclear crisis: What does Alert Level 5 mean?

Note: This rather lengthy report intends to inform and educate on the Fukushima nuclear accident. It is by no means exhaustive. I tried my best to make it understandable to the public. Kindly refer to the links provided within the report for further details.

Readings at Monitoring Post outside the 20-kilometer zone of the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant on 17 March between 9:20 and 15:00 showed that the radiation to peak at reading point 32. According to the Japan's Education Ministry (MEXT), this is thought to be the result of a controlled containment venting and a simultaneous fire which carried radioactive particles inland. Click here to see the MEXT data.

Philippines: Not ready for any disasters

Located on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire," like the badly-hit Japan, it is not far that the Philippines may be the next country to suffer the wrath of Nature.

How prepared are we in the Philippines?

Mga Suliranin sa Puso

Available at: Jeepney Press

Dahil ang nakaraang buwan ay dinaraos ang Valentine’s Day, narito ang ilan sa may mga suliraning pampuso.

Tanong (T): Dr. itatanong ko po sana if pwde png magamot ang butas sa puso? kasi ang babaeng pinakamamahal ko mayroon na skit na ganun :( gusto ko po siyang tulungan na mapagaling ung skit nya khit magkano po gagastos ako gumaling lang po siya help nmn po doc... please ...

Doc Gino (DG): Ang paggagamot ng butas sa puso ay depende kung ano ang sintomas ng tao at kung wala namang sintomas kahit na may butas, sa tingin ko ay hindi naman dapat galawin. Upang makatiyak, mas mainam kung siya ay magpapakonsulta sa isang "cardiologist" upang masuri nang mabuti at mabigyang-payo.

T: Dr, itatanong ko lang po kung anu ang sanhi ng pagkakaroon ng butas ng puso ang isang sangol. kc po ang anak kong babae ay 8 months na ngaun. nung 6 months po siya nalaman ko pong may butas ang puso niya. pinatingin ko po siya sa pediatric cardiologist at napaultrasound ko na ang puso nya. sabi ng doctor 2 ang butas ng puso nya, di ko po alam kung bakit siya nagkaroon ng butas sa puso, saka di naman po siya nangingitim pag umiiyak.

DG: Ang pangingitim ng sanggol sa tuwing iiyak ay isa lamang sa mga sintomas ng pagkakaroon ng butas sa puso. Mas mainam kung ikaw ay bumalik sa iyong "pediatric cargiologist" upang malaman kung ano ang naging sanhi nito para sa iyong anak.

T: ano po ang kailangan gawin pag may butas ang puso? operation po ba talaga? wala na po bang ibang way para gumaling ang bata? tanong lang po ;) salamat po.

DG: Hindi naman lahat ng butas sa puso ay nangangailangan ng operasyon. Mayroong mga kaso na kusang nagsasara. Ilan sa mga dahilan ay ang laki ng butas, lokasyon nito, at edad ng sanggol. Ipasuri ang sanggol sa isang "pediatric cardiologist" upang malaman ng mabuti ang kondisyon ng bata, at kung ano ang mga posibleng mangyari.

Guatemala to file charges vs. US on syphilis experiments

Guatemala threatens to file a class action lawsuit against the US government for intentionally infecting 700 patients with mental health illness and prisoners with two sexually-transmitted infections as part of medical experiments conducted between 1946 and 1948.

US authorities have until Friday to resolve the issue outside the court or face legal action, according to the BBC.

China rejects harmful US-made health products

Over the recent years, China has been the target of controversies with regard exporting a wide array of products deemed toxic for consumption--from melamine-tainted milk, to toys with toxic levels of lead and to medicines or pet foods containing unsafe chemicals.

WikiLeaks cables showed that in 2007, a Chinese official was privately criticized by two US Congressmen--Rep. Rick Larsen (D, Washington) and Rep. Mark Kirk (R, Illinois)--for exporting to several countries potentially poisonous products, Reuters said.

Prince William to visit disaster victims in Australia, NZ

Christchurch quake victims will be visited by Prince William of Wales on 17 and 18 March as announced by the St. James Palace today.

The 28-year-old heir to the throne is set to attend the National Memorial Service for the victims of the 6.3 magnitude temblor that killed over a hundred people according to the NZ Herald.

Manila woman miraculously survives 11-floor drop

A police official told the media that a woman survived falling from the 18th floor and landing on the swimming pool on the seventh floor of the Paseo Parkview Condominium in the financial capital Makati City on Wednesday in a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The drunk 20-year-old Ildelyn Montono went with her Korean national boyfriend, Sae Um Lee's condominium who left her alone inside the unit on Tuesday, a security guard was quoted by the investigators.

11 Filipinos still missing in NZ, body count 166

The body count in the devastated Christchurch city remained at 166 overnight after the 6.3 magnitude quake struck on 22 February. With nothing more they can do, the New Zealand authorities ended yesterday the search and recovery missions in the ruined Canterbury Television building.

In a telephone interview by dzMM, the family of one of the missing Filipinos who went to the damaged city accepted the fate of their loved one. The relatives are hoping for a miracle to happen although the possibility of being alive is slim.

Death toll in NZ reaches 159

Last Tuesday’s deadly 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch city death toll has now climbed to 159 and is expected to hit 240 after all buried bodies will have been retrieved, police superintendent Dave Cliff said in a report by the New Zealand Herald.

Of the fatalities, 11 had been officially named.

Goodbye Macky

I never owned a dog. I learned to like dogs only in the past few years when I lived in Japan. I seldom like dogs in my home country because many of them are stray and bark a lot.

A few minutes ago, I received news from my apartment manager that his dog, Macky--a seven-year-old female canine--passed away. I like Macky the moment she was introduced to me exactly a year ago.