By Rose Palacio

Davao City (12 January) -- The Department of Health Center for Health Development for Southern Mindanao Assistant Secretary Dr. Dolores Castillo has instructed for a wide education and information drive relative to Meningococcemia, an acute bacterial disease characterized by sudden onset with fever, intense headache, nausea and often vomiting, stiff neck and frequent rashes with pink macules.

The mode of transmission is through direct contact including respiratory droplets from the nose and throat of infected persons. Incubation period varies from two to ten days, but commonly three to four days.

DOH information officer, Anna Remolar during a regular "Takna sa Kahaimsug" radio forum over DXRP Radyo ng Bayan said the disease can be spread through coughinpeople," he said.

Leading Dabawenyo philanthropists and corps of volunteer specialists and healthworkers, Aportadera has pushed forward Maharlika's noble mission through conducting medical missions.

Medical outreach missions kicked off when Dr. Aportadera took office as the president of Maharlka in 1989. The first leg was made in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat benefiting B'laans suffering from eye illnesses and goiter.

It was on that year also that the Pediatric Rehabilitation Program for cerebral palsy, motor and speech differently-abled children was established and later on was turned into a comprehensive care unit with assigned regular therapist.

During his early years as president of Maharlika, Dr. Aportadera had already made significant accomplishment as he also served as the chairperson of the Surgery Department of Davao Medical Center.

He put up ambulatory surgery facilities for cataract and harelip and made way for the establishment of a burn treatment facility at the Davao Medical Center.

With such accomplishment, Maharlika bagged on March 12 1991 the National Award for Community Service for Mindanao given by the Rotary Club of Makati and San Miguel Corporation.

Maharlika moved on with its mission in 1990s through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) assistance in acquiring units of medical equipment and a building.

At the turn of the millennium, Maharlika established in 2000 a hearing disability and hearing testing unit; inaugurated the Mobile Operating Theater Van; started operating the Specialized Rehabilitative Surgeries for cataract, squint, harelip, hernia among other minor surgeries; fostered a wide network with a number of agencies supportive of its mission.

The network was been forged through series of medical using the mobile operating van named "Dapitan," in honor of the national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal who made a record to be the first medical practitioner doing surgeries to patients in Mindanao.

Just recently, Maharlika got a license from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to extend amubulatory surgical services other conducting ambulatory medical operation for cataract.