By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental provincial government is now considering establishing its own water analysis laboratory for a faster and cheaper way of detecting water-borne diseases across the province.

Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Provincial Health Office (PHO) head, said the plan was considered after representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH) visited the province last week.

The proposal to establish a water analysis laboratory has already been forwarded to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.

Representatives from the WHO and DOH also conducted inspections in local government units (LGUs) affected by water-borne illnesses, such as cholera.

Pinongan said the health officials visited Talisay City and E.B. Magalona town, which recorded high numbers of cholera cases in the province this year.

She advised the local health units in the province to conduct monthly analysis of water sources as part of efforts to contain the spread of water-borne diseases.

However, most LGUs are having a difficult time conducting real-time analysis of water samples as they have to bring them to private laboratories in Bacolod City.

She added that they are looking at utilizing district hospitals to test water samples./DGB, WDJ