By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Department of Health in Western Visayas (DOH-6) underscored yesterday the importance of safe drinking water in the wake of an increasing number of amoeba and acute gastroenteritis cases in Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City.
Based on new data provided by the San Carlos City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 469 cases of acute gastroenteritis and amoebiasis were recorded as of Wednesday, March 1.
Personnel from the DOH’s Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) have already met with officials of the provincial and city health offices.
During the meeting, DOH-EOH handed over 100 collapsible drinking water containers, 3,000 water purification tablets, 50 enzyme chromogenic substrates for water testing, 200 oral rehydration salts, two units of total dissolved solid meter, an incubator for water testing, and portable ultraviolet light.
Meanwhile, fatalities due to suspected amoebiasis remain at two, the latest being a three-year-old child from San Carlos City’s Barangay Bulwangan.
DOH-6 and Central Office have already conducted water analysis from the samples they have taken from various water sources in the city, especially those from areas with a high number of cases.
Several water refilling stations are also being checked to determine if they have any presence of bacteria in their water.
DOH-6 said the local government unit continues to undertake measures to avert cases through heightened inspection of water refilling stations, massive information dissemination, and mobilization of health personnel to conduct health education sessions on proper hand washing and waste disposal.
Earlier, San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo said there were lapses in CHO’s reporting of cases, pointing out that had he received a proper report, he could have declared a health emergency much earlier.
Gustilo declared a state of health emergency last February 22.
The city’s main line water system was subjected to laboratory tests and amoeba bacteria were detected.
The samples were sent to an accredited laboratory in Bacolod City for further verification. The results are expected to be released on Friday, March 3.
Gustilo advised the city’s residents to boil water for 15 minutes before drinking.
Amoebiasis can also be prevented by keeping the surroundings clean, washing hands before eating and after using the toilet, and maintaining proper personal and food hygiene./DGB, WDJ