Cases of leptospirosis are on the rise in the Philippines. The DOH has a novel solution on how to combat this disease. Ban swimming in flood waters.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/08/13/2377467/doh-wants-ban-swimming-floods |
As cases of leptospirosis continue to rise, the Department of Health (DOH) plans to ask local government units, especially in flood-prone areas, to ban swimming in floodwaters.
Speaking to reporters yesterday at Malacañang, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa lamented the public’s lack of information about leptospirosis.
“I will recommend to local chief executives, to mayors, to issue an ordinance... to ban swimming in floodwaters,” Herbosa said.
The DOH chief said he would also talk with Education Secretary Sonny Angara to help in educating children about acquiring the disease by swimming in water contaminated with animal urine.
“It’s not a communication problem, it’s a behavior problem. We need a change in behavior,” Herbosa said.
He also called for proper solid waste management as accumulation of garbage attracts rats, the common cause of leptospirosis, adding that most of the cases were in areas affected by the recent flooding due to Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon.
Herbosa gave assurance that there is no shortage of doxycycline, which is used to treat the disease. Symptoms of leptospirosis include fever, vomiting, nausea, muscle pain and headaches.
Reports said a total of 1,444 leptospirosis cases were recorded from Jan. 1 to July 27 this year – a figure 42 percent lower compared to the 2,505 cases in the same period last year.
Dr. Alberto Domingo, DOH spokesman and assistant secretary, said the cases are expected to rise further.
“Not yet included in our latest data are the new cases we have now – those lined up in hospitals. Thus, we are seeing a rise in the number,” Domingo said in a televised interview.
He assured the public that even with the rise, there are still enough beds in hospitals for leptospirosis patients.
“We do not lack hospital beds. There are times, we observe there are hospitals about to get filled with patients but we are still able to manage,” Domingo said.
He reminded the public to seek immediate consultation after wading in floodwaters.
There are a lot of things wrong with this proposal.
Who is going to enforce such a ban? Will the PNP be on patrol during heavy rains to arrest or scold children playing in gross flood waters? Perhaps they will arrest the parents instead?
Most importantly it does not address the root causes of the problem. The problem is the massive flooding which happens every rainy season in the Philippines. One would think that after nearly 80 years of self-rule the government would have been able to solve something so detrimental to the public but alas that is not the case. No matter how many roads are built or drainage tunnels dug the nation continues to flood.
Part of the reason flooding continues is because many residential and business districts are built on easily flooded land which is below sea level. Banning building on flood-prone land would keep people out of the danger zone.
The other part of the reason is, as DOH Secretary Herbosa notes:
"it’s a behavior problem. We need a change in behavior."
That includes teaching people to not litter and how to properly store and toss their garbage. That also means reforming how the government handles waste management. Garbage trucks need to come at regular intervals, same day and same time, to collect the waste. This does not always happen which causes waste to pile up which leads some to burning or littering.
The bottom line is the Philippines does not need more laws on the books which will not be enforced. Real change in the Philippines will come with reeducation of the people and the government finally doing its job.
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