DOH advises public vs dehydration amid El Niño

WITH the start of the Holy Week and the rising heat index that the country is experiencing, the Department of Health (DOH) is urging the public to take necessary measures to alleviate the effects of heat on the body.

Health Secretary Janette Garin said the DOH has already declared a Code White alert in preparation for heat-related incidents that may occur this Holy Week.

Code White Alert means all health workers will be on alert or on on-call status 24 hours a day.

Garin said this year’s Holy Week is different because “we are now experiencing the fullest extent of the effects of El Niño.”

She reminded the public, especially senior citizens, to drink water constantly to stay hydrated. She also pointed out that because of the heat, food will spoil faster unless refrigerated.

Garin warned that it is during this time that heatstroke, sore eyes and highly communicable diseases are common.

“If you are not feeling well, don’t strain yourself, stay in the shade, and most importantly, keep yourself hydrated. For those who are taking maintenance medication, do not take it for granted,” Garin said in Cebuano.

She likewise pointed out that the incidence of dengue may spike during the summer months because most people will be storing water in open containers and this could be an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.

To prevent this, Garin urged everyone to use covered containers to store water. She also encouraged the public to dispose of their garbage properly as uncollected garbage could store water from rain and turn piles of garbage into  mosquito breeding grounds.