Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa made a surprise visit Tuesday to a barbershop and wellness spa in Quezon City as part of the Department of Health’s (DOH) ongoing Mpox prevention and response measures.
Teodoro, along with DOH and Quezon City health officials led by Acting City Health Officer Dr. Ramona Asuncion Abarquez, went to Gruppo Barbero Manila in Tomas Morato and New-York Spa along Timog Avenue.
The public health officers interacted with some of the personnel of the said establishments. They discussed operational concerns, especially in light of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recent pronouncements about the viral illness.
The WHO has declared mpox as a public health emergency of international concern. The DOH later confirmed cases in the Philippines with the first one detected from a male patient, who frequented a spa in Quezon City.
“(The) 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,” said Herbosa.
“Adherence to public health standards is best when there is a clear understanding of the science behind infection prevention and control,” he added. The DOH said they are close to publishing specific mpox guidelines for establishments and public spaces.
The health department has been working on a consultative and participatory approach to formulating the said guidelines, drawing upon its mandates under the Sanitation Code and the Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases.
