Right Information is Key to Ebola Prevention – DOH

Iloilo City (PIA) — The Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas said that correct and accurate information about Ebola is a crucial weapon against the spread of the disease.

In a press conference held Monday at Sarabia Manor Hotel here, DOH-6 Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Jesse Glenn Alonsabe said the health department has provided sufficient information so the stakeholders and the general populace have a better understanding of the disease.

“The lack of information became the problem in affected countries in West Africa because people there do not know what kind of disease was Ebola,” he said.

He said that when it comes to information and preparedness, the general public has been saturated with what they need to know about the disease.

“In social media, there are a lot of cynicisms regarding the preparation for Ebola not only in the Philippines but even in other countries such as the United States to the point of over-acting or hysteria,” he stressed.

He said that the health department would like to avoid the public getting into hysteria.

“In our system, it is very hard to manage the hysteria epidemic rather than the true epidemic itself,” he pointed out.

He said, however, that they do not want to develop the culture of complacency among the stakeholders and the general public.

“The right information in the right time given by the right people is key to preventing the spread of this disease,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DOH appealed to the public not to spread unconfirmed and baseless reports about Ebola for these will be sowing panic and fear that will only put lives in danger.

For correct information about Ebola, please visit the DOH official Facebook page – Department of Health (Philippines) and website – www.doh.gov.ph. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

Image Credit: DOH