BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – There are no cholera cases in the province, according to the Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO), although there are reports of cases of gastrointestinal illnesses.
PHO head Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said the province also records cases of typhoid – another water-borne disease similar to cholera – once in a while but he noted the cases as mostly sporadic.
Tumimbang also confirmed cases of diarrhea and minor gastrointestinal issues such as indigestion, and these resolved on their own.
The PHO head said it is the responsibility of municipal or city health offices, through their respective sanitation divisions, to check water supplies and where they originate, such as water refilling stations, deep wells and open wells.
“Waay pa man ta subong [cholera] cases. As of now may mga cases ta sang typhoid kapin pa gid kung mga highly endemic nga typhoid [strains],” Tumimbang added.
Earlier, provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said the provincial government is on the lookout for cholera and other water-borne diseases.
This comes after Bacolod City was placed on “alert status” after reporting a cholera case over the weekend.
“Damo areas diri that are still relying on open wells, and kun dira ang sources sang aton drinking and cooking water, then dako man ang possibility nga ma-contaminate ang aton ilimnon kag pagkaon,” Diaz said.
He reminded the 31 local government units in the province to strictly enforce a zero-open defecation policy to combat cholera and other water-borne diseases.
Diaz also emphasized the importance of the Provincial Integrated Water Security Council Organizational Meeting held last Friday, Sept. 16, wherein they approved the Negros Occidental Provincial Integrated Water Security Plan.
He said establishing the PIWSP would help organize the state of the province’s water supply and sanitation and, in turn, could minimize or even eradicate any water-borne diseases./PN
