Grassroots medical info transfer pushed

Public health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon believes members of the medical community should lead the public information campaign on health education.

Leachon made the statement after infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante urged authorities to strengthen information campaigns on leptospirosis, particularly during the rainy season when floods increase exposure to the disease.

Solante said the public should be informed about the steps they need to take if they walk through floodwaters to avoid complications caused by leptospirosis.

“Many Filipinos remain unaware of the basic steps they must take to protect themselves after wading through contaminated waters. This knowledge gap is costing lives,” Leachon said.

“It’s time for the medical community to step up — not just in clinics and hospitals, but in barangays, classrooms, and media platforms,” he added.

Leachon reminded doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals “to become proactive educators, not just reactive responders.”

He also urged medical societies and academic institutions to launch sustained and culturally attuned campaigns on prevention, starting with leptospirosis and expanding to other flood-related diseases.

Further, Leachon called on local government units and civil society to establish partnerships that ensure life-saving information reaches even the most vulnerable communities.

“Preventive health education is not a luxury — it’s a frontline defense. And in times of crisis, silence is complicity,” he said.

“Let this rainy season be the turning point. Let the medical community become the voice that empowers, protects, and heals — before the illness strikes,” he added.

On Monday, the Department of Health said the number of leptospirosis cases nationwide is starting to plateau.