Prevention is best cure for rain diseases

CEBU, Philippines - Prevention remains the best way to combat diseases that are prevalent during the rainy season, health officials said yesterday.

Dengue, for one, can be prevented by making sure that containers that can store water are covered or emptied so that mosquitoes cannot breed.

"Kinahanglan gyud ta nga limpyuhan kay as we know, diha mabuhi ang mga larvae sa lamok nga magdala og dengue," said Dr. Wilson Anthony Egos, medical officer IV at the Provincial Health Office.

"The prevention and control is really to follow the 4S… kani siyang 'search and destroy' so pangitaon ang mga places asa nang mag-stagnant ang water nya limpyuhan na siya ug atong tabunan; second is we practice 'self-protection' so sa atong suoton kay mag-pants, sweat shirts ug polo kay aron maproteksyonan atong panit; third is kung naghilanat na 'seek early consultation', the earlier the better; last is 'say yes to misting and say no to indiscriminate fogging," he said.

Meanwhile, Wilfredo Salgado, Jr., Health Education Promotions Officer II, said misting and other larvicidal activities will be undertaken by the Provincial Health Office and the Provincial Epidemiological Surveillance Unit.

"Naay team ang PHO nga maoy mangulo anang misting ug larvicidal activity. Ongoing ni siya, whole year round gyud na siya nga among gibuhat," Salgado said.

He said that there are some municipalities and towns in the province that have taken the initiative in acquiring larvicidals and misting machines, but those who have not will be assisted and provided by the PHG.

Salgado also stressed the importance of health education.

"Ang importante is ang kalimpyo sa atong panimalay nga maglikay ta nga dili tuboan og mga waya-waya ang atong mga lugar labi na ang sandayong, mga balde nato," he said.

Other common diseases during rainy days are diarrhea and leptospirosis.

According to Salgado, rural health sanitary inspectors from the municipalities are working on the chlorination activities of water sources, as evident in PHO's report that as of January 2016, no cases caused by contaminated water have been brought up.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Health Department has also warned the public against waterborne diseases this rainy season, with dengue being one of the monitored diseases.

Aside from severe cases, colds and coughs are among the common diseases during rainy season which can be transmitted from one person to another.

People, especially children, are advised to take vitamins to boost their immune system. — (FREEMAN)