MANILA, Philippines—An official of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged the government to put more resources into sanitation to control communicable diseases.
“More resources should be placed on sanitation because sanitation changes the hygienic behavior of a person,” Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, WHO Philippine representative told INQUIRER.net.
“Improving the quality of service, paying close attention to food and water safety, building good and sanitary infrastructures, promoting hygienic lifestyles, all of that will help the Philippines contract communicable diseases,” he said.
“We have typhoid outbreaks, cholera, measles, AIDS [acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]. You know, these are diseases that are common in the Philippines. Communicable diseases are usually more common in developing countries, [such as] nations in the Asia-Pacific region,” Nyunt-U said.
“The recent Calamba typhoid outbreak is an example of a communicable disease that the Philippines should look into. Government should address [this and], if something needs to be repaired, repair,” he said, referring to an outbreak in early March that affected hundreds of people in Calamba City in Laguna that was reportedly caused by contaminated water.
He also said that no one is too young to be educated about health measures. “In health, [in] society, you have to be realistic. Children, teenagers, couples, need to know these safety measures to protect themselves from diseases.”
Nyunt-U also batted for the use of condoms to control the spread of AIDS and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
Asked about Pope Benedict XVI’s admonition against the use of condoms during a recent visit to Africa, Nyunt-U said: “That is the Catholic point of view. But from a health point of view, we are for 100 percent use of condoms, especially for the sex workers and their clients, or those who are engaging in the act with multiple partners.”
“It has been proven that the use of condoms, where there is a generalized epidemic, will decrease disease transmission. We have Bangkok, Cambodia, [where] statistics show that [the spread of the] disease decreased when use of condoms was promoted,” he said.–Erika Tapalla, INQUIRER.net
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
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 #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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