CABANATUAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Health (DOH) Central Luzon Center for Health Development (CLCHD) promotes food safety, handwashing, and water sanitation to prevent food and waterborne diseases this rainy season.
DOH CLCHD Food and Waterborne Disease Program Manager Kathleen Rodriguez underscored the importance of the World Health Organization’s five keys to food safety, including keeping clean, separating raw from cooked food, cooking thoroughly, storing food at safe temperatures, and using safe water and raw materials.
She reiterated the need for regular handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to reduce the risk of infection, especially during food preparation and after using the toilet.
Rodriguez advised households to boil water for three minutes or use chlorine solutions and water purification tablets to ensure safe drinking water during flooding.
She also stressed proper waste segregation as a key step in preventing contamination and protecting communities from diseases.
To assist areas without access to clean water, the DOH provides technical support to local government units and implements programs to improve water supply, sanitation, and hygiene practices.(CLJD/MCAL, PIA Region 3–Nueva Ecija GIP)
