Health office set to inspect schools
Inspection will include dengue-risk areas in public schools
City Health Department will also check sanitary permits of school canteens, warns parents and students against unhygienic food preparers
THE Cebu City Health Department (CHD) will deploy all its 39 sanitary inspectors to check public elementary and high schools in the city in preparation for the opening of classes.
CHD head Dr. Stella Ygoña said the sanitary inspectors will check potential dengue-risk areas in schools.
She said dengue cases are expected to rise in June because it is the beginning of the rainy season.
“There is really a need to inspect all schools and clean their surroundings to get rid of possible breeding sites of denguecausing mosquitoes,” said Ygoña in an news conference yesterday.
Citing CHD records, Ygoña said a total of 736 dengue cases were reported in Cebu city from January to April this year.
The figure is 23 percent lower than 962 dengue cases in the same period last year. The cases were recorded in Barangays Talamban, Guadalupe, Mambaling, Lahug, Banilad, Duljo Fatima, Ermita, Sambag I, Labanhon, Pasil and Pardo.
This year, CHD record- ed two dengue fatalities— all children. The first, Ygoña said, was in Barangay Kalunasan in February and the second was recorded in Basak Pardo last April.
Ygoña said CHD sanitary inspectors will also check school canteens to see if they pass sanitation standards.
Ygoña also said school canteens should have sanitary permits from the City Government before they operate.
Ygoña advised parents and students not to buy from vendors selling food and drinks outside the school.
“Risgo man gud kanon nang mga pagkaon nga way tabon then ang gabaligya way cover sa ilang hands. So mas maayo nga magbawon na lang ang mga bata (There is risk of contamination for uncovered food and those prepared by persons who lack hygiene. It's better for children to bring their own food),” she said.
Ygoña urged barangay officials and school authorities to help CHD's drive to stop vendors selling unhealthy food near school premises.