CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – The Laguna Provincial Health Office (PHO), through its Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU), has urged the public against self-medicating amid the rising number of pertussis or whooping cough cases in the province.
In an interview with the Philippine Information Agency’s Usapang PIA radio program, Maria Concepcion Guia-Suarez, a disease surveillance nurse, advised parents to ensure their children received complete immunization against Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD).
“To everyone, especially to the parents, make sure that your children are vaccinated at the health centers, it is free protection against various diseases,” she said.
The Laguna PHO emphasized that seeking guidance from healthcare experts ensures precise, accurate diagnosis, personalized treatment plans, and proper monitoring of the illness's advancement which are crucial in effectively managing pertussis and safeguarding public health.
Suarez added: “Also, seek proper guidance from doctors and health centers rather than relying solely on online sources like ‘Doctor Google’. While many resort to self-medication, it’s important to prioritize professional help.”
In addition to active case finding, the provincial government initiated a campaign on VPDs to swiftly address any outbreaks that may arise. Meanwhile, local health authorities have implemented targeted interventions, such as vaccination campaigns and public awareness initiatives, to prevent the disease from further spreading.
“The Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) enhanced its VPD Surveillance and immediately came down to the city and started active case finding to determine the affected areas, contact tracing and sample collections to be sent to the RITM for confirmatory testing. They were also isolated and given them and their close contacts appropriate medicine.” Suarez explained.
The PHO and PESU are closely working with local government units to provide logistics, health education materials, and information dissemination to guarantee access to essential healthcare resources and knowledge to prevent and manage pertussis.
“There are continuous meetings with the RESU, NIP, and LGU for the immediate resolution of the case, we provide logistics, health education materials, and information dissemination regarding the disease.” she said.
In a separate advisory, Governor Ramil Hernandez expressed his support for the pertussis vaccination program, ensuring that hospitals in the province are always prepared. The local chief executive has also advised the public to immediately seek medical consultation if such feelings and symptoms of pertussis are experienced.
As of April 6, 2024 the Laguna PHO has reported 55 cases of pertussis in the province, while the city of Santa Rosa has declared a state of calamity amid the disease outbreak. (AM/PIA-4A)
Usapang PIA is a weekly radio program hosted by the Philippine Information Agency Laguna. It is broadcasted every Friday, from 11:00 am to 11:30 am on DZJV 1458 kHz Radyo Calabarzon and streamed live on the Philippine Information Agency CALABARZON and PIA Laguna Facebook pages.
