BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental 3rd District’s Cong. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez spearheaded the North Central Negros Interlocal Health Zone (ILHZ) meeting in Talisay City on Wednesday, Oct. 26, to discuss the outbreak of cholera in parts of the district.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that initiatives and interventions are coordinated.
He also urged everyone to work closely so that all means taken become effective.
Benitez urged everyone, too, to learn from the best practices in cities and municipalities.
One of the proposals that the lawmaker pushed is for monthly, instead of quarterly, monitoring of all water refilling stations and restaurants in the 3rd District, and to revisit and amend city, municipal, and barangay ordinances to coincide with the standards set by the Department of Health (DOH).
“The rise, fall and geographical clustering of diarrhea cases must be monitored and reported. Most importantly, there must be a mentality of taking this public health concern seriously,” Benitez pointed out.
The lawmaker also discouraged the use of unregistered jetmatic pumps, noting that it is safer for private establishments to connect with their local water districts that are compliant with sanitary standards.
“It is also important that local governments monitor open defecation and sewage treatment. The sanitary practices of persons and establishments that handle food and beverages must also be closely inspected,” he added.
Meanwhile, Victorias City mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez, who is also the chairman of the North Central Negros ILHZ, assured the body of convening soon the ILHZ core group comprised of health officers and key medical staff, together with the DOH and Provincial Health Office (PHO) representatives, to put in place guidelines and strengthen action plans on surveillance and monitoring, prevention and treatment.
For her part, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, chief of hospital of the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City and action officer of the North Central Negros ILHZ, assured the body of coordinating with the DOH and the PHO to ensure that information-education-communication materials will be integrated and disseminated to strengthen the current cholera information drive of all LGUs in the 3rd District.
To recall, most of the 17 cases of cholera in the province were reported in localities under the 3rd District, including two deaths – one each in the town of E.B. Magalona and Silay City./PN
