Public health campaign vs. spitting must be intensified amid COVID-19, says UP prof

Filipinos must learn to let go of some old practices that involve saliva as the country transitions into a new normal due to the threats of COVID-19, a University of the Philippines professor said on Friday.

"We need to intensify our public health campaigns kasi sa totoo lang maraming mga Filipino na hindi naniniwalang problema ang laway," Dr. Michael Tan, professor from the UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, said in a virtual forum hosted by the Department of Health.

"Laway at plema walang difference kasi sa mga Filipino. In fact, tingin nga sa laway healing pa 'yan—'pwera usog' sa mga bata," he added.

Many Filipino families have been accustomed to the practice of anointing saliva on the tummies or soles of babies to ward off any sickness that may result from so much adoration.

The public health campaign promoting proper hygiene and cough etiquette could be contextualized so that it would be easily understood by local communities, the medical anthropologist said.

Tan added that stricter rules in public places must also be in place to penalize spitting as he acknowledged that even foreign nationals in the country are doing so.

"Ang pagdudura kasi ay issue din sa mga Chinese at sa dami ng Chinese workers paano ito maa-address nga. Talagang malaking problema din 'yan," he said.

In Manila City, an ordinance prohibiting spitting in public places was passed last March to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

As of May 14, the Philippines recorded a total of 11,876 COVID-19 cases with 2,337 recoveries and 790 deaths.—AOL, GMA News