Latest news with #Domingo
Filipino Times
2 hours ago
- Health
- Filipino Times
DOH urges public to take precautions against leptospirosis as rains, floods worsen
The Department of Health (DOH) is urging the public to stay vigilant against leptospirosis amid widespread flooding due to heavy rains. DOH Spokesperson Asec. Albert Domingo, in a Malacañang press briefing, advised people to heed local government warnings and seek medical attention if they come into contact with floodwaters. Domingo noted that symptoms of leptospirosis, such as fever, muscle pain, yellowing of the eyes and skin, and changes in stool color, usually appear two weeks after exposure. However, he emphasized that early intake of prophylactic medication can help prevent infection. Leptospirosis primarily affects the kidneys but may also damage the lungs, heart, and in severe cases, the brain—potentially requiring ICU admission. He urged anyone who has been submerged in floodwater to wash thoroughly with soap and water and consult a doctor immediately. Free medication is available at government health centers. Domingo likened floodwater to toilet water, highlighting the importance of sanitation. He warned against ignoring early signs and encouraged preventive care, especially with more weather disturbances expected, such as Tropical Depression Dante and two other low-pressure areas.
GMA Network
9 hours ago
- Health
- GMA Network
DOH: P31M worth of medicine deployed for emergencies
The Department of Health said Tuesday around P31 million worth of medicine have been deployed nationwide in case of emergencies. In a palace briefing, DOH Spokesperson Undersecretary Albert Domingo said that the supplies of medicine have been pre-positioned in the following areas: Ilocos Cagayan Valley CALABARZON MIMAROPA Western Visayas Central Visayas Northern Mindanao Domingo added that around P180 million emergency medicine remains on standby and awaiting deployment. 'Hindi pa natin dini-deploy pero kapag kailangan po ay ating papakawalan,' he said. (We haven't deployed these stocks but we will release them if we have to.) DOH shared the emergency medicine include CAMPOLAS, which are antibiotics cotrimoxazole and amoxicillin, mefenamic acid for pain relief, paracetamol as fever suppressant, oresel for diarrhea, lagundi for cough relief, and skin ointments. 'Mayroon din pong mga hygiene kits, mga drinking water containers at mga chlorine tablets para huwag tayong uminom ng kontaminadong tubig at mayroon ding breastfeeding kits para sa ating mga nanay,' he added. (We also have hygiene kits, drinking water containers, and chlorine tablets so that we don't have to drink contaminated water, and there are also breastfeeding kits for our mothers.) Meanwhile, DOH is currently conducting rounds at several evacuation centers in Metro Manila. Earlier, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa visited schools being used as evacuation centers in Marikina City. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
9 hours ago
- Health
- GMA Network
DOH advises public to beware risks of leptospirosis amid flooding, heavy rains
The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, warned the public to remain alert on the risks of leptospirosis amid heavy rains and flooding nationwide. In a palace briefing, DOH Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo advised the public to follow directives from the local government to avoid further health issues. He also said that the DOH and doctors from the LGU may issue prophylaxis to combat leptospirosis in case of being submerged in flood. 'Ang sintomas ng lepto, hindi lumabalabas iyan in the next few days — mga two weeks later pa ho pero kung mabibigyan tayo ng gamot agad-agad, hindi po lalabas iyon,' he said. (Lepto symptoms does not appear in the next few days, but two weeks later unless we get medicine right away, then it won't appear.) Domingo advised the public to watch out for the common symptoms of leptospirosis, which include but are not limited to: Fever Muscle pains Yellowing of the skin and the eyes Discoloration of the stool 'Ang mga tinatamaan ho kasi ng lepto ay iyong bato, iyong kidneys kaya madalas nada-dialysis. Pwede rin iyong ating baga, pwede rin iyong ating puso, at kung malala po pati iyong utak, puwedeng tamaan. Pwede pong ma-ICU ang isang pasyente,' Domingo shared. (Lepto affects the kidneys, which is why they often undergo dialysis. It can also affect the lungs, the heart, and even the brain may be affected in worse cases.) Domingo advised any individual who may have had any parts if their body submerged in flood to seek medical assistance. 'Ang ginagamit nga naming pahintulad [ay] iyon pong tubig-baha, parang tubig iyan ng inidoro. Kung tayo nga po ay mapahawak doon, naghuhugas kaagad tayo – so, soap and water kaagad, tapos kumunsulta tayo kasi iyong gamot puwede naman hong ibigay nang libre sa ating mga government health center para huwag po tayong mauwi sa leptospirosis,' he said. (The comparison that we use is that floodwater is like toilet water. If we accidentally touch it, we wash immediately—so soap and water immediately, and we also have to consult right away because the medicine can be prescribed for free in government health centers so that we don't end up with leptospirosis.) Earlier, PAGASA reported that a low pressure area inside the PAR has developed into Tropical Depression Dante. Two other LPAs were also observed near the Philippines. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/LA, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14 hours ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
DOH: Obey evacuation protocols, ensure safe drinking water
The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reminded the public to follow evacuation protocols and ensure the cleanliness of their drinking water amid inclement weather due to the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo advised the public to evacuate, if needed, upon instruction of authorities and to take note of rescue hotlines for emergencies. "Kapag sinabi ng kapitan, mayor, o gobernador na evacuate, lumikas na po para makaiwas sa sakuna. Tandaan ang rescue hotlines: 911 sa national, 1555 sa DOH," he said. (When the barangay captain, mayor, or governor orders an evacuation, please evacuate to prevent disasters from happening. Remember the rescue hotlines, 911 for national, 1555 for DOH.) Domingo also urged the public to be mindful of their drinking water during these times, regardless if they are at home or in evacuation centers. The Health official said boiling water for up to two minutes or using chlorine tables will help sterilize drinking water. In the event that they were affected by flooding, the public was advised to wash any part of their bodies that was submerged in floodwater, and to consult the nearest local health center for free medicine. Meanwhile, evacuees were reminded to always wash their hands and wear face masks. Weather service PAGASA has monitored three Low Pressure Areas (LPAs) inside and outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). One of the LPAs located near Central Luzon has a high chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours, while another LPA in Batanes has a medium chance of becoming a tropical depression in the next 24 hours. A red rainfall warning was also issued for Metro Manila, Bataan, and some parts of Cavite at 8 a.m. Areas under a red rainfall warning may experience serious flooding in flood-prone areas. "The public and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices concerned are advised to MONITOR the weather condition and watch for the next warning to be issued at 11:00 AM today," PAGASA said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Inside quiet rural Spanish town that's become flashpoint for anger at pro-immigration policy after OAP's savage beating
SPRIGHTLY Domingo Tomas Martinez was taking his usual dawn stroll when he was battered so brutally that his eye wept blood. The beating, allegedly at the hands of a North African youth as two others looked on, sparked race riots that have rocked Spain. Advertisement 9 Masked men aremed with baseball bats out on the streets of Torre-Pacheco Credit: Getty 9 Domingo Martinez was savagely attacked on his morning walk, allegedly by a North African youth, sparking race riots that have rocked Spain 9 The race riots — the worst in Spain for decades — have left many questioning its socialist government's pro-immigration stance Credit: Reuters 'I didn't say anything to provoke them,' the 68-year-old retired farm worker from the southeastern town of Torre-Pacheco insisted. 'I had my watch and house keys with me, and that young man didn't even take the watch. He just hit me to hurt me. He hit me for fun.' If local gossip is to be believed, the blows rained down on Domingo were for social media likes. It left local hotheads — egged on by the far right — thirsting for revenge. Advertisement READ MORE WORLD NEWS Once sleepy Torre-Pacheco, which lies amid the so-called 'vegetable garden of Europe', descended into three nights of inter-ethnic mob violence. The race riots — the worst in Spain for decades — have left many questioning its socialist government's pro-immigration stance. Policies have included making it easier for undocumented immigrants to become legal citizens. Torre-Pacheco's population has doubled to 40,000 over the last 30 years as workers have come from abroad to toil in the fields. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Live Blog Now, about a third of residents are foreign-born, many from Morocco. Professor Juan Antonio Soto, from the University of Navarra, told me: 'Torre-Pacheco isn't a fringe case. It's the frontline of Spain's migration model — and its failure to integrate newcomers.' Shock moment cops DRIVE INTO protester while under siege from yobs as chaos erupts over small boat migrant 'sex assault' Bloodied and scarred Britain, which saw eight police officers injured in While some locals here in Torre-Pacheco tell me the explosion of violence has been brewing for decades, it was Domingo's beating which lit the blue touch paper. Advertisement On July 9, the pensioner left his villa near the centre of Torre-Pacheco at around 5.30am for his daily stroll. Exercising before the stultifying daytime temperatures soared, he walked briskly towards the cemetery on his regular two-and-a-half-mile route. Then, he noticed three North African men, one of whom, armed with a stick, allegedly knocked him down and beat him. The pensioner believes the other two were recording what happened on their phones. Advertisement Images of his bloodied and scarred face were broadcast across Spain, sparking pity and anger. Domingo would later offer a motive for the beating he allegedly received, saying: 'In town, they say the young kids are doing a dare, hitting someone to see who hits harder. 'And I think that's why they did it — to film everything.' Three men have been arrested, including a 19-year-old from Barcelona who was held trying to make his way to France. Advertisement Then, on July 11, Torre-Pacheco's mayor rashly called for a rally in the Town Hall Square under the slogan, 'free from violence, free from crime'. Hundreds of residents, including those from an immigrant background, attended the demonstration, which was initially peaceful. Later, violence flared and locals and extremists from other parts of Spain began goading North Africans with shouts of, 'Moors, sons of bitches' and, 'Go back to your country'. Social media did its foul work. A fake video purportedly showing Domingo's beating did the rounds, while a Telegram group named Deport Them Now called for a migrant 'hunt'. Advertisement Feral-looking youths seemed to take them at their word. For three nights, masked mobs swarmed the streets as darkness fell and the 35C temperatures abated. When the rabble reached the Moroccan district of San Antonio in the town, hooded youths looking just as menacing were waiting for them. Among the arsenal of weapons employed by both mobs were baseball bats, clubs and bottles. Riot cops fired rubber bullets to quell the unrest. Advertisement On July 13, Hassan, the Moroccan owner of Don Kebabs, was forced to flee his takeaway when a 50-strong, balaclava-clad mob yelled at him: 'Shut up shop, moro (an insulting word for North Africans), today you're not going to work.' They then smashed the place up as Hassan and one of his staff fled through a back door. Santiago Abascal — leader of the far right Vox Party — looked to capitalise on the violence. 9 Fatrm labourer Mustafa Kawder and mechanic Mohammed in the San Antonio district dhave blamed racism for the violence Credit: Chris Eades 9 Salah El Hilali, owner of Cafeteria Estambul, says the town is tense and he fears trouble after 8pm — but still trusts the police to protect them Credit: Chris Eades Advertisement 9 A protester taunts police who are trying to restore order in the town Credit: Reuters He released a video saying of migration: 'It has stolen our borders, it has stolen our peace and it has stolen our prosperity.' With his party sitting third in the polls, Abascal blamed the ruling Socialists and the conservative Popular Party for 'all the violence' and demanded 'immediate deportations'. 'Clash of cultures' Vox was the most popular party in Torre-Pacheco in the last town hall elections in 2019, capturing over 38 per cent of the vote. Advertisement The mayhem left Britons with plush villas at the Mar Menor Resort on the outskirts of Torre-Pacheco wary of leaving the secure complex. One retiree there told me: 'There's a Spar supermarket and a poolside bar, so we luckily don't need to leave.' Enjoying the evening sun in San Antonio this week, motorcycle mechanic Mohammed, 30, told me: 'We don't want problems, we're not aggressive people, but we're not frightened of the racists.' He and his farm labourer friend Mustafa Kawder, 24, insisted they weren't involved in the violence. Advertisement The immigrants who come here want to bring their culture and Sharia law with them. Javier Rubio, Protestor Mustafa, a £6.20-an-hour melon picker, added: 'There was a lot of racism here before all this happened. I was born in Morocco, but won't leave because of this. Spain is my home now.' In the centre of the town, I met Javier Rubio, 40, who has travelled down from Alicante to speak out against Muslim immigration because he believes 'there is a clash of cultures'. He says he has not been involved in the violence. Nevertheless, the sausage hanging from his waist — 'because Muslims don't like pork' — reveals the mark of the man. Previously working as a waiter in London for nine years, he said: 'The first week I was in England , I found work. I didn't claim benefits. I paid taxes and didn't commit any crime. Advertisement 'And I didn't ask for running bulls through the streets of England . Go to Spain if you want that. "The immigrants who come here want to bring their culture and At times, security forces were overwhelmed by the violence in Torre-Pacheco in the past week. They only got a grip on the gang warfare by sealing off entrances to the town from outside provocateurs. There have been at least five injuries and 14 arrests. Advertisement Once a sleepy farming village, irrigation in the late 1970s turned its dustbowl fields into a fertile plain of lush olive and lemon groves. Soon, polytunnels were used to protect lettuce and artichoke crops while fields of ripening melons now ring the town. Thousands of labourers were needed to plant and harvest the crops and Spain looked abroad to fill shortages. Now the sprawling town is home to around 6,500 Moroccan-born workers as well as migrant communities hailing from Mali, Senegal , Romania and Ecuador . Professor Soto said: 'Many migrants arrived legally, but there's also been irregular migration, with thousands working in the informal economy or living in precarious housing.' Advertisement Brought up in regional capital Murcia, the professor says some of Torre-Pacheco's schools have over 60 per cent of pupils from migrant backgrounds. Meanwhile, some migrants live in ramshackle properties that lack electricity or sanitation and, according to Professor Soto, have 'little meaningful integration' with Spanish society. In September 2021, a suspected suicide terror attack was unleashed in nearby Roldan. Moroccan-born Abdelllah Gmara stabbed himself then accelerated a VW Golf at over 60mph into the terrace of Honey's Bar, a popular venue with British expats. Advertisement One diner was killed and others were injured. The driver, who reportedly left notes suggesting a jihadist motive, also died. Yet, outwardly at least, most in the town seemed to rub along. Professor Soto added: 'On the surface, things remained calm — but many locals felt ignored, especially as services became overwhelmed.' 'They have no identity' At the same time, many second and third-generation descendants of Moroccan immigrants are struggling for identity in a town where they face racist abuse from some. 'The problem is they have no identity,' said local sociologist Paulino Ros. 'They want to be Spanish and feel Spanish. Advertisement Soon the police and the journalists will leave, and we will be in deep s**t. Paulino Ros, Sociologist 'But the people in the street's common insult is, 'Moorish s**t, go back to your country'.' The 57-year-old dad of two, who produces the Islam In Murcia blog, added: 'They were born in Spain and don't know Morocco, so they are foreigners at home. 'They have this conflict of identity and this is a problem. When you are a teenager, your mind is crazy.' Now, uneasy tension shrouds the town. At the Cafeteria Estambul in the heart of San Antonio, boss Salah El Hilali, 56, told me: 'I get worried after 8pm when the attacks were coming. But we trust the police who are defending us.' Advertisement Above the counter, a picture of the Enjoying a coffee , Moroccan-born Ayyad Houssin, 35, said: 'I'm worried for the future . So many people support Vox now.' Sociologist Paulino is equally downbeat. 'Soon the police and the journalists will leave,' he added. 'And we will be in deep s**t.' 9 Nazi grafiti daubed on a road sign Credit: Chris Eades Advertisement 9 The mayhem has left Britons with plush villas at the Mar Menor Resort on the outskirts of Torre-Pacheco wary of leaving the secure complex Credit: Reuters 9 Britain watched uneasily as Spain erupted — days after clashes outside an Essex migrant hotel left eight police officers injured. Credit: Story Picture Agency
