Check schools’ water sources amid gastroenteritis, cholera cases

November 14, 2022

The Department of Education has ordered all schools to check water sources amid rising cases of gastroenteritis and also of cholera.

DepEd – Western Visayas has directed the 21 schools’ divisions in the region to check their schools’ water systems to prevent the diseases from infecting the students as well as faculty members.

Ramir Uytico, DepEd-6 director, said the divisions should check their water source, water tanks, and faucets, especially hand-washing areas.

He advised learners and teachers not to use the water in schools for drinking.

“At the regional office, I will require our medical officer to always coordinate with our medical officers in all 21 divisions because I don’t want to say that this is just in Iloilo City. We will always engage our medical officers to go around schools and to check the water systems there,” Uytico said.

In Negros

Ian Arnold Arnaez, information officer of the DepEd Negros Occidental Division, said that “majority of schools in the province already use water dispensers and their drinking water comes from the water refilling stations.”

“Tap water is used only for comfort rooms and washing purposes only,” Arnaez pointed out.

Negros Occidental has tallied 24 confirmed cholera cases — two of whom have died — based on the provincial health office.

Talisay City tallied the most cases with 10, followed by neighboring towns Silay and EB Magalona with 5 each. Victorias City and Calatrava have one case each.

Since having no cases in 2019, the provincial government recorded its first case in January 2022.

Since January, six have died and over 600 were inflicted with the disease.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called on local government units in the province to organize their respective drinking water quality monitoring committees amid the increase in water-borne diseases.

According to the World Health Organization, cholera is an “acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.”* (EYA)