BAGUIO CITY – The City Health Services Office (CHSO) reported that diseases under surveillance in the city have decreased tremendously from January 1 to May 6 this year but residents to be vigilant for the presence of such diseases, especially with the onset of the rainy season.
City Health Officer Dr. Rowena Galpo disclosed that acute bloody diarrhea cases dropped by 33 percent during the said period while typhoid fever cases also decreased by 66.67 percent for the reckoning period.
For hepatitis cases, she revealed that there were no case recorded by the office for this year compared to the 2 cases last year which represents a 100 percent decline in one of the diseases under surveillance.
The city health officer noted that there were also zero cholera cases in the city during the said period.
According to her, there was a 96-percent decline in influenza-like illness cases while dengue fever cases dropped from 104 to 85 cases, an 18.36 percent decrease.
She admitted that measles cases increased from 4 to 269 cases with cases peaking in February compelling the CHSO to conduct mass immunization that caused the declining trend of the measles cases in the first week of March up to the present.
Among the leading causes of death in the city during the said period include cancer, vascular illnesses, heart failure, accident and trauma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Galpo reports that not much have changed in the number of communicable and non-communicable diseases that were recorded during the aforesaid period.
She stated that the prevailing communicable illnesses in the city are upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, bronchitis among others while the non-communicable illnesses include lifestyle diseases that affect major organs of the body.
Considering the unpredictable changes in the weather condition in the city, Galpo called on residents to ensure that their immune systems are strong by eating the right kind of food, have enough exercise and have enough rest to prevent them from contracting illnesses.
She advised people suffering from whatever type of illness to immediately consult health personnel in the nearest health facility, particularly in the district health centers in the city that are well equipped, to ensure that they will be provided with immediate medical attention to diagnose their illness and ensure their good health condition.
Galpo explained the city government invested in improving the status of the 16 district health centers in the different parts of the city to help in bringing closer to the people the needed health services.
Galpo assured the residents of the sustained implementation of quality health services by the designated office to help in ensuring that people are healthy.
By Dexter A. See
