Health Secretary Ted Herbosa and Acting City Health Officer Dr. Ramona Asuncion DG. Abarquez of Quezon City, together with Department of Health (DOH) and Quezon City health officials and staff visited two establishments recently to discuss mpox prevention as part of preparedness and response measures.
Gruppo Barbero Manila and New York Spa along Timog Avenue in Quezon City welcomed a surprise visit by Herbosa and the composite DOH-QC health team.
“DOH recognizes and thanks the cooperation of establishments like barbershops, salons, and spas in our response efforts against Mpox.”
“DOH recognizes and thanks the cooperation of establishments like barbershops, salons, and spas in our response efforts against mpox. The virus will find it hard to spread where businesses work actively with health authorities,” Herbosa stressed.
The public health officers learned about operational concerns of the barber shop and the spa, especially in light of the current WHO declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
“Adherence to public health standards is best when there is a clear understanding of the science behind infection prevention and control.”
“Adherence to public health standards is best when there is a clear understanding of the science behind infection prevention and control,” the health chief added.
The DOH is close to publishing its specific mpox guidelines for establishments and settings. The Department has been taking a consultative and participatory approach to formulating these, drawing upon its mandates under the Sanitation Code (PD 856) and the Notifiable Diseases Act (RA 11332).
