The City Health Office (CHO) urged the public to be wary of diseases during the rainy season such as dengue and leptospirosis.
CHO Head Dr. Tomas Miguel Ababon said that environmental cleanliness is the key to combatting rainy season diseases, especially dengue.
Ababon, during the media forum, held the previous week, stressed that the public must ensure clean surroundings to curb cases of dengue as the eggs of mosquitoes that carry dengue disease that can withstand heat may hatch during the rainy season
“Pwede gyud musaka ang cases sa dengue karon kay nagsugod na ang ulan, katong mga itlog nga wala nato nahipos sa barangay mabasa to o mabutangan og tubig mapusa mahimo to silang lamok (Our cases of dengue may rise as the rainy season starts because the eggs which were not removed from our containers may get wet, and would become mosquitoes),” Ababon said, adding that the public should continue cleaning their surroundings and remove all the breeding places of mosquitos.
“Ang pagpanlimpyo sa balay dili lang ta nagpapogi sa atong silingan kini siya tungod sa atong pagmahal sa atong pamilya (The cleanliness of our surroundings is not for showing off, it is because we love our families),” Ababon said.
Ababon also warned the public about Leptospirosis cases, which may also rise due to flooding incidents during the rainy season.
“Kining Leptospirosis dili ni siya lalim nga sakit paspas ni siya mukalat nga makadaot sa lawas ug mga organ sa lawas (Leptospirosis is a deadly disease, it can easily spread and can affect the organs of the body),” Ababon said.
He strongly advised Dabawenyos who will be exposed to flood waters to immediately go to their nearest health centers for prophylaxis medicines offered for free.
“Kung dili kinahanglan mulusong sa baha ayaw, pero kung nakalusong na gyud sa baha adto mo sa health center para matagaan og prophilaxis. Nag andam man ang opisina para ana (If you do not need to wade into flood waters, please don’t but if you have done so, you can go to the health center for prophylaxis. Our office prepared for that),” Ababon said, adding that they currently have a supply of prophylaxis medicine and health centers can also offer a substitute to these drugs in case it will run out.
The CHO, from January 1 to June 8, 2024, recorded 70 cases of Leptospirosis with 16 deaths. The number of cases has increased by 62.8 percent compared to the same period last year. The 2023 cases from the same period recorded only 43 cases.
The 70 cases are reported to be from 38 barangays. Barangay Bucana recorded the highest with 10 cases, followed by Buhangin with six cases, and Maa with five cases. CIO
