QC health centers prepared for rise in summer diseases

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has instructed the local health office to make sure that all its 66 health centers are fully equipped with sufficient supplies to treat residents afflicted with summer diseases.

In a statement, Bautista said he had directed city health officer Antonietta Inumerable to double efforts in warning the public against common summer diseases such as sore eyes, heat stroke, gastroenteritis, dehydration, skin damage due to sun exposure and respiratory tract infections.

He ordered the local health office to conduct a citywide information campaign through the distribution of pamphlets and the conduct of seminars on the proper measures to avoid these diseases.

The Quezon City health department, meanwhile, advised the public to avoid sun exposure, particularly from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and to apply sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor of 15 (SPF15) every two hours if going out is unavoidable.

At the same time, it suggested that people keep themselves hydrated by drinking lots of liquids; wash their hands at least 20 times a day to prevent infection or diseases and avoid buying uncovered or improperly prepared food and drinks.

Inumerable explained that risk factors which contribute to the contraction of summer diseases include unhealthy eating habits, dirty hands and nails, insects and surroundings as well as exposure to the sun.

“An ounce of prevention is needed this summer to prevent us from becoming victims of the common diseases,” she said.