The province of Davao de Oro has registered the most number of HFMD cases with 415, followed by Davao del Norte with 374, Davao City (296), Davao Occidental (200), Davao Oriental (102), and Davao del Sur (25).
DOH-XI Assistant Regional Director Dr. Gerna Manatad reported this during Monday’s (Feb. 20, 2023) Kapehan sa Dabaw of the Philippine Information Agency Region XI in partnership with SM City Davao.
Dr. Manatad said that the disease is contagious among zero to nine-year-old children.
“Right now, the local government units and the rest of the provinces with clusters of an increasing number of cases are doing their best to improve and promote the basic information on how we can prevent the spread among the younger children,” she stated during an interview.
She emphasized on the importance of intensifying the sanitation process and establishing of hand-washing facilities and well-ventilated classrooms in every school, as this will prevent the spread of the said disease among children.
“Very important talaga yung handwashing access ng mga bata sa community. With the opening of the schools, DepEd is very much aware of how important really is sanitation and all the practices na kailangan. This way, can cut the transmission of the HFMD,” Dr. Manatad said.
The DOH-XI, Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, local government units, and rural health units have partnered in responding to the rising cases of HFMD in the region, through disinfection, isolation, and information dissemination in schools. (PIA-XI/Franchette Delfin)
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