Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson reiterated his call for all Local Government Units and the public to ensure the practice of safe acquisition and consumption of drinking water with the rise of Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) cases, including cholera in the province.
Lacson, in an advisory issued Tuesday, September 27, pointed out that the Department of Health disclosed that during their environmental surveillance in the region they found that most cases of AGE can be traced back to contaminated shallow wells.
The DOH, Advisory No. 2022-155, emphasizes the boiling of drinking water and disinfection of household containers, Lacson said.
Water Refilling Stations are also advised to post their Water Bacteriological Test Results done within the month as stated in the Philippine National Standard for Drinking Water, together with their corresponding Business Permit and other licenses. The public is advised to check these to ensure that the water provider is following the prescribed rules and regulations, the governor quoted the DOH as saying.
“AGE is a preventable disease that requires us to be precautious about the water we use and practicing good sanitation and hygiene in our immediate community”, Lacson said.
Acute Gastroenteritis is only one of many diseases that can be caught through the consumption of unsafe drinking water and his advisory, while focused on AGE, is meant to inform the public of such risks, he added.*