City& Local Guidelll
HFM is a viral disease that commonly affects infants and children under five years old. The symptoms include fever, painful sores around the mouth, and rashes with blisters on the hands, feet, and buttocks.
Dr. Joy Lariosa–Espina, Children’s Health Medical Coordinator of the CHO, underscored that children’s resistance to illness is strengthened through immunization, proper handwashing and providing nutritious meals which parents must consistently provide to support healthy growth.
“Atoang ampingan ang atoang mga kabatan’onan. First, hatagan nato sila og mga vaccination. Ang basic immunization dapat kumpleto ang atoang mga anak ani sa wala pa sila nag abot og 13 months. Pag one year old dapat na kumpleto na nila ang ilahang mga bakuna. Kani nga mga bakuna, free ni siya sa atoang mga district health offices. Ikaduha, tama nga nutrisyon. So, dapat atoang mga ioffer na pagkaon sa atoang mga anak is balance and nutritious food. Ikatulo, tudluan nato sila og proper handwashing techniques kay daghan gyud kaayo na mga kagaw ang maiwasan kung perminte lang limpyo ang atoang mga kamot (We must protect our youth. First, we will give them vaccinations. The basic immunization should be complete for our children before they reach 13 months. By the time they are one year old, they should have completed their vaccinations. These vaccines are free in our district health offices. Second, proper nutrition. So, the food we should offer to our children should be balanced and nutritious. Third, we should teach them proper handwashing techniques because many germs can be avoided if our hands are always clean),” she told Madayaw Davao over Davao City Disaster Radio on July 6, 2026.
City& Local Guides
She also explained that hygiene plays an equally critical role, urging families to teach children proper handwashing techniques as a daily habit. Clean hands, she noted, are one of the simplest yet most effective defenses against the infection.
“Dapat tudluan pod nato ang atoang mga bata unsaon pag hugas sa mga kamot. Aside ana, ang katung mga perminte gunitan nila like mga dulaan, mga tables and chairs kay atoa pod siya limpyohan always (We should also teach our children how to wash their hands. Aside from that, the things they frequently touch like toys, tables, and chairs should also be cleaned regularly),” she said.
She added that they are coordinating with daycare centers and schools to ensure that parents and teachers are equipped with information about HFM disease symptoms.
She also clarified that while the disease is not fatal, patients are still advised to stay at home for seven to ten days to avoid spreading the virus as adults may also carry the virus without symptoms yet still transmit the disease.
Parents are encouraged to seek immediate medical consultation at their nearest district health offices if their children show signs of fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers or skin rashes commonly found on the hands and feet.
“If ever naay mga symptoms ang ilahang anak, fever, cough, colds dalaon dayon sa mga health centers para matagaan og igo na mga tambal (If your child has symptoms, fever, cough, colds, you should take them immediately to your nearest health centers to receive proper medication),” she added. CIO
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