Water-borne diseases on the rise, says BM Napulan
First District Board Member Mac Napulan is appealing to the general public and management of all water-refilling stations to heed Health officials’ plea for water analysis.
This, as the Department of Health (DOH) regional office 6 came out with a report confirming contamination of drinking water and drinking water source in various parts of Iloilo.
A physician by profession, Napulan told The News Today (TNT) that in the past two weeks alone, cases of water-borne diseases brought to his clinic for medical attention “significantly increased.”
The patients are mostly children too aged 2 years old and younger with similar findings of gastro-enteritis.
Napulan also chairs the Committee on Health and Sanitation of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP).
The water contamination here in Iloilo was confirmed in at least four of the ten deep wells tested in Iloilo City. Six deep wells were likewise found positive, all for E.coli Bacteria in four Iloilo towns namely Pavia and Leganes in the Second District, Concepcion in the Fifth District and Miag-ao in the First District.
The findings formed part of the analysis made by a team from the DOH Western Visayas Regional Office 6.
Napulan stressed that while E.coli Bacteria contamination is disturbing, if reported early is actually manageable and treatable. The water-refilling stations need to be particularly checked, he added, saying it is only in theory that drinking water here is “100% clean.”
“In reality, that is not the case thus not reliable… there is something not right and amiss in the system so it is most important that regular examination and water analysis be made,” Napulan said.
He also pointed out a DOH report citing concerns on reliability of potable water bottled from commercial water stations. Though no specifics were released, Napulan said the findings then stated “60% – 70%” of the water-refilling stations are contaminated.
Extra precautions like “rightly” boiling drinking water should also be made, he added. To note, water should be allowed to boil for 15 to 30 minutes for eradication of bacteria. The presence of E. coli Bacteria in water is a strong indication of recent sewage or animal waste contamination. During rainfalls, the bacteria may be washed into creeks, rivers, streams, lakes, or groundwater. When these waters are used as sources of drinking water and the water is not treated or inadequately treated, the bacteria ends up in drinking water.
Infection often causes severe bloody and non-bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
“E.coli Bacteria contamination is an all-season bacteria but are highest at the onset of dry season and end of rainy season,” Napulan shared.