“Bata, bata paano ka umubo?” (Kid, how do you cough?)

This is the question the doctors ask in setting off the UBOkabularyo, a citywide information dissemination campaign on proper coughing and hand washing the Valenzuela City Health Office organized in coordination with the Department of Education-Valenzuela and the City Social Welfare and Development Office.  

The campaign was launched recently through lectures and demonstrations on over 1,347 elementary students of Serrano Elementary School at Barangay Marulas.

“The campaign will be brought to all public schools in the city, including day care centers.  It was conceptualized to prevent the spread of air borne diseases in the city, such as, Tuberculosis (TB).  As of now, we are treating 2,000 TB patients, 400 of them are children,” said City Health Officer Dr. Jaime Exconde.

Dr. John Philip Tiongco, TB Program – Assistant Medical Coordinator, gave lectures on how one acquires and can prevent acquiring tuberculosis.  “Everyone can have TB, it is better to start educating the youth for early prevention,” he said.

In lieu of preventing these air born diseases, Ms. Andrea Marie de Jesus, Health Education and Promotion Office (HEPO) Coordinator in Infectious Disease currently making rounds at all public schools to educate the children in proper coughing, especially in public areas.  

She gives meaning to the word U-M-U-B-O which means “to cough”.   

U – Umubo at bumahing gamit ang panyo o tissue

      Sneeze or cough using a handkerchief or a tissue paper

M –Magtakip ng ilong at bibig ‘pag may umubo o bumahing malapit sa ’yo

      Cover your nose and mouth when someone coughed or sneezed near you

U – Ugaliing nasa tamang lugar at paraan ang pagdura. Huwag dumura sa kalsada o sa

       lupa. Gumamit ng tissue o papel at itapon ito sa basurahan.

      Use tissue or any kind of paper when spitting and throw in proper trash bins. Do not

      spit on the street or public places.

B – Bigyan-halaga ang paghuhugas ng kamay matapos umubo o bumahing

      Make it a habit to wash your hands after sneezing or coughing

O –Okay lang gamitin ang manggas, loob ng damit kapag umubo o bumahing kung

       walang panyo o tissue.

      It is okay to use the sleeves or the other side of your clothes if handkerchief and

      tissue paper is not available.