Rise in diarrhea cases in Aklan noted
BY VENUS G. VILLANUEVA

KALIBO, Aklan - There is a notifiable rise in diarrhea cases in Aklan at present.
Dr. Maria J. Magpusao, Chief of the Technical Services Division here of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said diarrhea cases were monitored to be increasing since December last year through surveillance units deployed to different health centers, municipal health offices and public and private hospitals in the province.
Children with ages 5 and below were identified to be most affected, based on hospital records.
Dr. Magpusao said that in order to prevent more diarrhea cases in the province, everybody must observed proper hygiene. Hand washing should be observed before and after eating and after using the toilet. School children should also avoid buying street foods and juices in open containers outside schools.
“Contaminated food and water causes diarrhea. It is advisable that when children buy food, they should choose those which are packed, like biscuits and juices placed in tetra packs. We must see to it that our children are not eating contaminated foods,” Dr. Magpusao stressed.
The Provincial Health Office is currently implementing all applicable preventive measures to prevent diarrhea cases here from reaching an alarming proportion.
This is to prevent a diarrhea outbreak from happening in Aklan as what happened in Loon, Bohol.
The DOH is currently distributing chlorine stock solution to the Loon residents to help them avoid diarrhea. Chlorine stock solution is scientifically known to kill the microbes in the water.