LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) are in Pangasinan to monitor pilot sites for the project Safe Water Systems (SWS), an intervention against upsurge of diarrhea, which the United Nations agency co-sponsored with the Department of Health.

Dr. Ana Ma. Theresa de Guzman, assistant provincial health office, said the WHO representatives are set to visit the towns of Basista , Bayambang, Sta. Barbara, Bolinao and San Carlos City, chosen pilot sites for SWS.

The WHO-DOH project is being waged for one year now in these pilot sites with the use of hypo-sol solution produced by an accredited manufacturer from Sta. Barbara, Dr. Rocky Doctor.

Prior to this, she said, the country is sourcing hypo-chlorine from Indonesia.

The project was launched in the wake of the outbreak of gastro-intestinal diseases in Pangasinan sometime in 2004 mainly due to the drinking of unsafe water sourced out from defective artesian wells and shallow wells found in several areas of the province.

However, it appears that cases of diarrhea in the pilot sites are still high in these pilot areas even with the use of hypo-sol solution, except in Bolinao which registered only one case from January to June 22 this year, said Dr. de Guzman.

The highest cases were registered in San Carlos City, 240 and Bayambang, 118.

The other pilot places found with lower cases of diarrhea were Basista, 37; and Sta. Barbara, 41.

De Guzman said in places where diarrhea cases are still high, it is possible that only few people are mixing hypo-sol solution to their drinking water possibly because they used to be drinking odourless water.

Hypo-sol is a chlorinated water solution that really has an odor but is safe to drink. It is recommended by both WHO and DOH as a  solution to be mixed with drinking water to safeguard people from diarrhea which is prevalent during the rainy season.

It is possible too that the disease in the pilot sites was caused by infected persons who did not thoroughly wash their hands before handling food after coming from the toilet, Guzman said.

Non-pilot areas in Pangasinan with unusually high diarrhea cases are Dasol, 175; Mapandan, 160; Asingan, 153; Bayambang, 118; Lingayen, 113; Alaminos City, 105; and Natividad, 101. (PNA)