MANILA, March 6 ------ Amid the prevailing El Niño, the Department of Health (DOH) has recorded cases of water contamination, food-borne and vector-borne illnesses in different regions in the country. As of January 2024, DOH's El Niño-related health events listed 469 cases of contaminated water sources in CAR, Regions 11 and 4A; 59 cases of food-borne illnesses in NCR, Region 10, and BARMM; and 137 cases of vector-borne diseases (dengue and chikungunya) in Regions 10 and 4B.
DOH assistant secretary Albert Domingo said these numbers are not yet alarming on a national scale, but added that cases are being monitored and are either being resolved or have already been resolved. "Hindi pa naman siya enough para mag-cause ng alarm in terms of numbers, pero they're still there at kailangan nating bantayan. Kasi kami ayaw naman naming mag-antay ng alarma na saka lang kikilos," he told ABS-CBN News. "Magandang balita is, so far, wala pa tayong nare-report na mga heat stroke cases sa ating bansa. So huwag po tayong magbilad sa araw, tayo po ay nasa lilim lagi. Magsuot tayo ng light-colored clothes, huwag tayo iyong masyadong mga, kumbaga, dark, iyong mga masisikip. As much as possible, drink a lot of water, mag-hydrate tayo. Kung tayo po ay kailangan lumabas, iwasan natin lumabas sa oras na 10 am hanggang 2 pm kasi iyon ang pinaka-peak na mataas iyong araw. Iyon ang tanghaling tapat na sinasabi nila," he added.
Domingo, who is also a doctor, shared the risk for heart attack also increases because of the hot weather which may cause stress, but other factors must be considered, like diet and lack of physical activity. As seen in the data, illnesses during the El Niño are not only due to the heat, but are also related to proper water handling and storage. Domingo said the DOH has already met with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to ensure that concessionaires properly install water pipes, as weak water pressure may cause health issues. "Kapag kaunti ang water pressure, pwedeng pumasok ang tubig na nakapaligid sa labas ng tubo na... Dapat pag nagkabit mula sa planta papunta sa bahay, siguradong hindi tayo nagkakaroon ng puwang," he explained. "Pag bumaba iyong pressure tapos nagkataon na meron kang joints ng tubo na maluluwag, pagpapasok doon iyong maduming tubig. Siguraduhin natin laging malinis ang ating tubig. Kung may duda, pakuluan ng 2 minuto ang tubig, at least," he added.
Engr. Patrick Dizon, department manager and spokesperson of MWSS, assured that its concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad are following the standards on water supply distribution pipelaying. "Both of our concessionaires are adhering to the MWSS technical specifications and standards for water supply distribution pipelaying. Furthermore, all contractors involved have undergone prequalification processes to ensure that work is executed with high quality standards. Additionally, our project engineers are actively overseeing the execution of the projects," he said in a message to ABS-CBN News.
Storing water is acceptable but Domingo explained that this must be done efficiently to avoid dengue. "Siguraduhin na pag nag-imbak tayo ng tubig, may takip... Kung kayang selyado para hindi makapasok ang lamok. Kasi doon siya papasok tapos mangigitlog siya, magkakaroon tayo ng dengue: kiti kiti, na magiging lamok later on, dengue ang kalalabasan," Domingo said. "Tandaan natin kung sino iyong una nating pinaglagyan, iyon ang una nating gagamitin," he added.
Resident Annalyn Galagaran from Block 35, Brgy. Addition Hills in Mandaluyong makes sure to adhere to these tips, as water pressure in their area tends to be weak. "Sa Phase 1, malakas minsan. Depende lang sa taas talaga ng linya kasi iyong tubo nila minsan maliit lang," she said. "Mineral [water] lang naman talaga kami kasi parang nasanay na iyong tiyan namin... Sa amin isang [drum] lang para papalitan din iyan kinabukasan," she added.
Domingo shared avoiding food-borne illnesses also lies in proper food storage and preparation. "Parang noong Pasko iyong reminder natin. Kung tayo ay 'mag-Sha-Sharon' at magbabalot, piliin natin iyong hindi masasarsa. Mas maganda iyong pagkain na tuyo, inihaw... Ano iyong mga napapanis? Iyong may gatas, may tomato sauce. So iwas tayo. Mas gusto natin iyong adobo kasi may suka siya, medyo hindi siya nagmimikrobyo," he said.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com