Facing Fatalities: Rise of Shadowed Seasonal Diseases Behind Covid-19

BY GIENNE GYLLE XIATHEA B. ABARCO Ozamiz City National High School

Consistent in raising tolls of active cases and deaths globally, Covid-19 has captured the public’s attention. Safety measures, health protocols and flocks of frontliners were set to focus on the pandemic and removed their gazes from other existing diseases sending danger from flood waters in this rainy weather.

Thinking through the analogy of war in a rainy season, not only are we battling against a physical enemy to survive, but also the endurance of health from the cold weather, the strong currents of flood and most especially, death in water-borne diseases.

According to Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque, beneath the surface level of seasonal diseases, amidst continuous rainfall withstanding the impact of Covid-19, diarrhea, leptospirosis and dengue’s invisibility lurked in the waters.

DIARRHEA

“Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of loose or liquid bowel movement usually caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasite organisms,” said by the Department of Health (DOH). The disease shows vitality in current times where showers of rainwaters and high temperatures are frequently abnormal.

Upon being considered as level one in intensity among the three, diarrhea has been counted as a dangerous water-born disease accounting 147 cases and one death from an outbreak in Davao

City last July 2022 as stated by City Government of Davao.

The culprit of the diarrhea outbreak in Davao was due to food contamination, a probable transmission of infected water was traced, too, said XHO acting chief Dr. Ashley Lopez.

LEPTOSPIROSIS

“Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that swims in flood waters transmitted by many animals, such as rodents and other vernim. Waste materials such as urine and feces of an infected animal, especially rats, contaminate the soil, water and vegetation, especially during floods,” Duque added.

Highlighting the disease’s strengths in flood waters and the hazard it sends back to humanity, the infection is capable of penetrating through open wounds of individuals exposed to contaminated waters. Leptospirosis is rampant, especially to areas in Misamis Occidental who have been victimized by the recent flashfloods from shearline and consecutive low-pressure areas.

“We send our constant reminders, especially to citizens in Oroquieta City and other neighbouring areas, to avoid wading in flood waters to prevent leptospirosis infection,” DOH further stated.

DENGUE

Meanwhile, known to be the most fatal throughout decades with chains of lethal outbreaks, the third, dengue, has once again infiltrated the country in its current state. Dengue fever is a mosquito water-borne disease that occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. having a reliable agency responsible for promoting inclusive socio-economic growth through the participation of our partners in the private sector and civil society," she said.

“Dengue transmission is sensitive to fluctuations in rainfall and other weather conditions becauze it is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. Recent studies have identified that extreme rainfall can result to mosquito breeding site flushing,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosaro Vergeire addressed. Current times, Philippines is still under the threat of LPAs and frequent rainfalls. The diseases mentioned are only some of those that awaits us in possible floods around the city. However, we must positively face these fatalities. They may be deadly but know that they are always beatable.

“It is best to arm ourselves with weapons against these diseases even before the onset of the rainy season by building a strong resistance against these illnesses and practicing personal hygiene and environmental sanitation,” Duque concluded.

Through paving ways with preventions by drinking water from safe sources to stop diarrhea while kits are being developed for the early detection of leptospirosis, clearing of environments to avoid mosquito breeding, we are yet to restore our resiliency in facing fatalities, may it be against Covid-19 or water-borne diseases.

In time for MinDA’s 13th founding anniversary, Duterte said the institution is an acknowledgment that Mindanao is more than a stage for deadly wars, an island of discontent and rebellion, among others.

"Over the years, you have fostered equitable development efforts and demonstrated our shared ideals of good governance and strong leadership," she said. For all that it has accomplished for the past 13 years, MinDA has constantly stayed the course, Duterte added.

She acknowledged the way MinDA serves as the government’s arm in extending comprehensive development plans and investment programs that drive Mindanao’s rural and urban development.

"In war-affected parts of Mindanao, MinDA has devoted its energy to programs and projects across the areas of infrastructure development, peacebuilding, and research and development in partnership with higher education institutions," Duterte cited.

She said MinDA has successfully placed Mindanao

Teaching English to junior high students

BY KRISH S. HUMIGOP Teacher I Marcelino C. Regis Integrated School Division of Ozamiz City

GROOMING the spongy minds of kiddos to absorb the wonders of English takes a whole lot of patience and creativity. If you’ve taken language classes both as a child and adult, you’ll know how vastly different your lessons may have been. Knowing how to teach English to young learners is a whole other ball game.

While writing out verb conjugation tables 20 times over is an effective strategy for adults to learn, you’ll be hard pressed to get seventh graders to sit still long enough to do the same. It can sometimes be difficult getting your young learners to stay focused for an entire class. on the map of commerce, business, trade, and development.

However, you can use that energy and curiosity to your full advantage. Engagement and fun is key to setting a strong foundation for the students’ future education. Turn lessons into songs.

Every English learner (both native and not) is familiar with at the very least one classic jingle. Yes, the ABCs are what we turn to for a reminder of what letter comes after Q.

Although the middle part requires a bit more brain power, the song offers English speakers a comfortable reference point for all their alphabetical needs.

Agila Executive Room

As the honored guest of its founding anniversary, Duterte and MinDA Secretary Maria Belen Acosta unveiled the Agila Executive Room marker in honor of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the current Vice President.

Acosta said the room serves as an abode of the two Dutertes' exceptional leadership as the first elected Mindanawon President and Vice President, respectively.

"It is fittingly named after our two Agilas from Davao City. The Agila Room also features a vast view of the city landscape, contrasted with Samal Island's seascape," she said. (PNA)

Extra Judicial Settlement Of Among Heirs Notice

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late spouses PETRA G. TINGSON who died on July 02, 2021 at Gonzales Hospital, Digos City, Davao del Sur, Philippines and SIVERIO TINGSON SR. Who died on August 14, 2015 at Purok 1, Kiblagon, Sulop, Davao del Sur, Philippines. Left “A parcel of land identified as Lot No. G-1-1, Psd-112406-040493 containing an area of THIRTY THOUSAND TWO (30,002) SQUARE METERS , more or less, located at Kiblagon, Sulop Davao del Sur, Philippines, embraced and covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. CARP2015000113” is subject Extra-Judicial Settlement of among heirs, before, ATTY. BENJAMIN B. WONG Notary Public, in as per Doc.

of

No.