Health expert asks gov’t for better public toilet, water systems amid rising cholera cases

An infectious diseases expert on Monday urged the government to provide better public toilet and water systems to address the rising cholera cases in the country.

Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines former president Dr. Mary Ann Bunyi made the appeal after a total of 3,729 cholera cases were recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) since January 2022—-a 282% higher compared to the data during the same period last year.

“Sana makapagbigay sila ng magandang istratukra ng public water system, pagalawa sana lahat ng water facilities ay chlorinated, pangatlo sana makapag-provide ang pamahalaan ng maayos na istraktura para sa mga palikuran para ma-improve natin ang sanitation,” Bunyi said in a public briefing.

(I hope the government could provide a good structure for the public water system, I hope all water facilities are chlorinated, and I hope they could also provide a proper structure for toilets so that we can improve sanitation.)

She also called on the government to engage with communities and encourage people to clean their own surroundings to mitigate cholera infections.

Based on DOH’s latest cholera data, most of the cholera cases this year were cumulatively reported from Eastern Visayas, Davao Region, and Caraga.

However, 258 cases were recorded from August 28 to September 4 alone, and most of which came from Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.

Asked why cholera infections were prevalent in these regions, Bunyi said that it may be due to access to contaminated water and poor sanitation.

“Maraming komunidad na gumagamit pa rin ng balon bilang source ng tubig ng pag-inom nila, poso…at kahit ilog,” she said.

(There are many communities that still use deep wells, hand water pumps, and even rivers as their source of drinking water.)

“Ngayon kung hindi maayos ang palikuran o kanilang toilet o latrine, maaring panggalingan ito ng cholera cases doon kung ikukumpara sa iba,” she added.

(If their toilets or latrines are not clean, it may be the source of cholera cases.)

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cholera is an “extremely virulent” disease that can cause severe acute watery diarrhea due to ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

This infection affects both children and adults and can kill within hours if untreated.

Bunyi called on the public to frequently wash their hands with soap, boil their water before drinking, and clean their comfort rooms to avoid risk of getting cholera. 

Also on Monday, National Water Resources Board (NWRB) executive director Dr. Sevillo David Jr. said they are coordinating with other concerned agencies to provide enough water amid the cholera cases.

“Napaka-importante po ng access sa magandang kalidad at sapat na tubig para po sa kababayan po natin (Enough and good quality water is very important for our people),” he said.

“Tayo naman po sa NWRB ay nakikipagtulungan sa ahensya ng gobyerno ng pamahalaan para po makapagbigay ng sapat na supply ng tubig para po sa mga kababayan natin para makatulong para mapigilan ang paglanap ng sakit na ito,” he added.

(The NWRB is working with other government agencies to give enough water to our people to help prevent the spread of this disease.) —with Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News