By Chito Chavez  A Quezon City official has urged the City Health Department to embark anew on a massive information drive in the city’s 142 barangays on how to prevent common diseases with the expected cold days ahead leading to the Holiday Season. (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Among the common diseases widespread during the rainy days and cold season are gastroenteritis, cholera, leptospirosis, skin diseases, dengue, and respiratory tract infections. First District Councilor Victor Ferrer Jr. issued the call asking the City Health Department to be wary in the possible rise in dengue cases and other ailments prevalent during this time of the year. He noted that deaths due to dengue and other similar diseases could have been thwarted or at least be minimized if only local residents were provided with the proper information. “But there are cases when local residents paid no attention to the call of the city government on how to combat these diseases which include having clean surroundings at all times. It is plain and simple negligence or laziness on their part,’’ Ferrer said. He asked city health officials to double their efforts in warning the public on common diseases and inform them on proper measures to prevent them. Aside from the information drive, Ferrer asked the city health department to ensure that the city’s health centers have enough supplies of medicines for these diseases. Ferrer also warned the public against wading, plunging and swimming in the city’s esteros, rivers, ponds, flooded streets and canals as they run the risk of drowning or being infected with communicable diseases. He raised the concern after reports reaching his office that children used the flooded areas as their swimming pools. Aside from contacting infectious and contagious diseases, Ferrer said that swimming in the city’s waterways might prove dangerous with the absence of licensed lifeguards. He suggested that the parents bring their children in the city’s public pool like the one located at Amoranto Stadium which is safe and affordable. Ferrer noted that his office had received reports that children as young as six years old have used the city’s dirty and murky waterways as their swimming pools. “Swimmers diving in the dirty waterways might contact infectious diseases like leptospirosis, hepatitis, coliform bacteria, cholera and other similar water borne ailments that would eventually lead to deaths if left untreated,’’ Ferrer concluded.