The Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is urging child development centers and primary schools in Bacolod City to implement precautionary measures against Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD).
The SP issued the call in a resolution authored by Councilor Em Ang, Committee on Health chairperson, which it approved on Wednesday, July 16.
The resolution advises schools and child development centers to take the following steps:
• Promote frequent handwashing among students, teachers, and staff, especially before eating, after using the restroom, and after contact with bodily fluids;
• Educate students on proper cough and sneeze etiquette, encouraging them to cover their mouths and noses with a tissue or their elbow;
• Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces, toys, and equipment frequently touched by children;
• Monitor students for HFMD symptoms, such as fever, mouth sores, and rashes on hands and feet;
• Advise the exclusion of students exhibiting symptoms until they are no longer contagious (typically after fever subsides and lesions have crusted over); and
• Provide information to students, parents, and staff regarding HFMD prevention and control.
The resolution also encourages schools to develop a response plan for potential outbreaks, including communication strategies with parents, barangay health centers, and the City Health Office.
HFMD is a common viral illness primarily affecting infants and children under five.
Ang noted that the Bacolod City Health Office has reported 61 confirmed HFMD cases this year, showing an upward trend.
She pointed out that the disease can spread rapidly in schools and childcare settings due to close contact among children.
Preventive measures are crucial to significantly reduce the risk of outbreaks and protect the health of students, staff, and faculty, Ang stressed.*