Health is wealth

I love the rains. It brings back memories of my childhood when we use to play under the rain, soak our feet in water puddles and eat freshly cooked champorado with tuyo (dried fish) over a candle light meal during a brownout.

Today, I still look forward to the coming of the rains but as a mother with three young tots, I worry about the waterborne disease that thrives during the rainy season.

The rainwater which used to be clean and pure is already polluted with myriads of microbes and parasites. Waterborne disease result to infections that are transmitted through contact or consumption of infected water. There are four classifications of waterborne disease: Protozoan infections, Parasitic infections, Bacterial infections and Viral infections. Dengue and Malaria are mosquito larvae which develop in stagnant water.

Protozoan infections include: Amoebiasis which develops in non-treated water sewerage or by having flies in water; Cryptosporidiosis thrives on water filters and membranes that cannot be disinfected or in animal manure; and Giardiasis is caused by untreated water, poor disinfection, pipe breaks, leaks, groundwater contamination where humans and animals (such as dogs, cats, rats) use same source of water.

Parasitic infections include: Schistosomiasis causing rash or itchy skin, fever, chills, cough and muscle aches; Dracunculiasis, a worm disease from stagnant water containing larvae; Taeniasis (tapeworms) from drinking water contaminated with eggs causing intestinal disturbances, neurologic manifestations and loss of weight; Ascariasis from drinking water contaminated with feces (usually canid) containing eggs.

Bacterial infections include: Botulism bacteria that can enter the gastrointestinal tract by consuming contaminated drinking water or food causing dry mouth, blurred and/or double vision, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, slurred speech, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea; Cholera can be acquired from drinking water contaminated with the bacterium (it is known to be one of the most rapidly fatal illnesses) causing watery diarrhea, nausea, cramps, nosebleed, rapid pulse, vomiting, and hypovolemic shock; E. coli infection from water contaminated with the bacteria causing diarrhea, dehydration from prolonged illness; Dysentery from water contaminated causing frequent passage of feces with blood and in some cases vomiting of blood; Legionellosis (two distinct forms: Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever) from contaminated water: Pontiac fever produces milder symptoms resembling acute influenza without pneumonia while Legionnaires’ disease has severe symptoms such as fever, chills, pneumonia; Leptospirosis from water contaminated of animal urine causing meningitis, liver damage (causing jaundice), and renal failure; Salmonellosis from drinking water contaminated with symptoms of diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal cramps; Typhoid fever develops from ingestion of water contaminated with feces and is characterized by sustained fever up to 40°C (104°F), profuse sweating, diarrhea, less commonly a rash may occur.

Viral infections include: SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) which manifests itself in improperly treated water causing fever, myalgia, lethargy, gastrointestinal symptoms, cough, and sore throat; and Hepatitis A manifest itself in water (and food) causing fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, itching, jaundice and depression.

I know that you may already be familiar with all these infections. But it is also important to note that these infections are very rampant today. The problem is that our environment is getting dirtier everyday. Our sewerage systems are not maintained well. Our canals are clogged with garbage. Our roads are very dirty. As result of poor hygiene, we cannot maintain clean water and food. Everyone in our society, rich or poor may easily be a victim of these waterborne diseases. So, we have to be very careful with what we eat, drink and even step on.

Not much attention is given to hygiene and sanitation in this country. Just look at the way garbage is disposed and picked up. Observe how Pinoys easily urinate in the street corners without being apprehended. Go to a wet market and see how raw food is handled. Just think of all the germs that continue to thrive and proliferate in our environment.

Many Filipinos are conscious of personal hygiene but not too conscious of environmental cleanliness. The government has a big stake in this problem. The LGUs and the barangay leaders should do their part in encouraging good hygiene and sanitation in their areas: in the streets, in the parks, in the market places, in the schools, in the community buildings, etc. The cleanliness campaign should be a concerted effort of all people in the community with a strong conditioning from its leaders.

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An interesting article entitled Double Burden by Bruce Heilbuth for Development Asia (a publication of the Asian Development Bank) stated that an explosion in infectious and non-communicable diseases represents a worsening crisis for developing economies and health authorities. Years back, infectious diseases that claimed many lives in Asia mostly affected poorer countries while non-communicable diseases are rampant in richer nations.

Today, things have changed. More people, rich or poor are suffering from non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cancer. Data from World Health Organization (WHO) in April 2011 showed that non-communicable diseases are now the leading cause of death around the world with the developing countries hit the hardest.

Unlike communicable diseases, which tend to affect people quickly, non-communicable diseases progress more slowly, creating complex health needs that are expensive to treat and can overwhelm already stressed health systems.

Now whether our fellow countrymen are hit with infectious disease or non-communicable disease – the problem is many Filipinos cannot afford medication and hospitalization.

Only 53 percent of our population is covered with PhilHealth insurance. And yet those covered are still not getting enough. Senior citizens who get an extra 20 percent discount are still overwhelmed with the medical expenses they incur on a daily basis.

The recently launched PhilHealth benefit that primarily addresses catastrophic cases such as leukemia, breast and prostate cancer aims to reduce household out-of-pocket health care costs. This move is greatly appreciated especially by those who cannot afford to undergo treatment. I just hope it works!

Of course, we know that private insurance is another issue and covers only a small percentage of our entire population. Sad!

I know we have many issues in this country to think about but health is an important issue and it must also be addressed. We must be conscious of all the toxins and health hazards we add to our environment that cause sickness. We must control waste management systems so as not to further pollute the waters, the rivers and landfills. We must be conscious of proper hygiene and sanitation so that everyone can be protected from the microbes that cause infections and disease. Before we become a literally “sick society”, our leaders should make health their top priority because as Winston Churchill put it, “healthy citizens are the greatest assets any country can have.”