by Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News, 23 Sep 2019
MANILA—The Department of Health (DOH) is calling on local government units (LGUs) to intensify efforts toward zero open defecation amid the resurgence of the poliovirus in the country.
Some 3.5 million Filipinos have no sanitary toilets, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said Monday.
“One of the reasons na tinitingnan natin kung bakit bumabalik ‘yung polio, hindi lang naman ‘yung low immunization rate, kundi kasama talaga ‘yung poor environmental sanitation,” he said.
An additional 700,000 toilets need to be constructed nationwide until 2030, or around 70,000 toilets annually for the next 10 years.
The health department’s proposed 2020 budget allocates only P2 million for the construction of toilets.
“Kahit sabihin nating P1,000 ang cost ng isang toilet, ang P2 million, eh 2,000 lang ‘yun. Hindi talaga kakayanin ng DOH lang. Kailangan ito magiging concerted effort natin,” Domingo said.
The DOH confirmed the re-emergence of the crippling disease in the Philippines, 19 years after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the country polio-free.
One polio case has been confirmed in a 3-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur, while the virus has also been detected in water sewage samples in Manila and Davao.
The country also recorded its second case of polio in Laguna province. Polio can cause paralysis and even death and has no cure.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
