Metro 3rd Interlocal Health Zone meets on cholera
NEGROS Occidental Third District Representative Francisco “Kiko” Benitez has stressed the importance of ensuring that initiatives and interventions are coordinated and urged everyone to work together closely so that all ways and means taken are effective.Benitez, who spearheaded the North Central Negros Interlocal Health Zone (IHZ) meeting in Talisay City on Wednesday, October 26, urged everyone to learn from best practices of each other as all city and municipal health officers reported status of cholera cases and what has been done [to arrest the situation].He underscored the need for monthly, instead of quarterly, monitoring of all water refilling stations and restaurants in the Third District, and to re-visit and amend City, Municipal, and Barangay Ordinances to coincide with Department of Health standards.“The rise, fall, and geographical clustering of diarrhea incidents - must be monitored and reported. Most importantly, there must be a mentality of taking this public health concern seriously,” he said.Benitez also discouraged the use of unregistered jetmatic pumps, noting that it is safer for private establishments to connect with their local water districts compliant with sanitary standards.“It is also important that local government units (LGUs) to monitor open defecation and sewage treatment,” he said.The lawmaker added that the sanitary practices of persons and establishments that handle food and beverages - must also be closely inspected.For her part, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, chief of hospital of the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital and action officer of the North Central Negros IHZ, assured coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Provincial Health Office.Maestrale said this is to ensure that information-education-communication materials will be integrated and disseminated to strengthen the current cholera information drive of all LGUs in Metro Third.Also present in the meeting were Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares and local Health Officer Dr. Raul Fama, Jr.; Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego and CHO Dr. Krisna Barnuevo; Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas and MHO Dr. Raymund Maguad; EB Magalona MHO Dr. Edmund Janeo; and representatives from the DOH and Provincial Health Office.Dr. Dolores Rommela Tiplez-Ruiz, Infection Control Specialist, summed up the relevance of the collaboration and synergy efforts as she reminded all that Cholera, severe diarrhea or other gastroenteritis cases caused by bacteria or virus should not be underestimated.“It must be taken seriously to prevent its spread in the community and direly affect people’s lives, just like the case of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic,” she said.Most of the 17 cases of cholera in the province were reported in localities under the Third District including two deaths with one each in E.B. Magalona and Silay City.
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