Intensified dengue info drive in schools set
Trabado
Schools are now the target of the intensified information and education campaign on dengue by the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
Iloilo Provincial Health Officer Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado said they will intensify their dengue information drive particularly in schools to involve not only students but also parents.
Trabado explained that the IPHO and the concerned school officials will have close coordination with the parents through their Parents Teachers Association (PTA) for the conduct of an orientation on dengue and the 4-S campaign launched by the Department of Health to prevent dengue.
"While the orientation with the parents is on-going some of our health personnel will visit the classrooms to also brief students on the basic facts about dengue and its prevention and control," said Trabado.
The activity will be started in the municipality of Oton which has recorded the most number of dengue cases in the province of Iloilo with 101 cases and 1 fatality since January to August 11, 2007.
"We have already discussed this prevention measure with the Mayor of Oton and their Municipal Health Officer and we are targeting about 21 schools this month, one school in the morning and another one in the afternoon," said Trabado.
Trabado added that they will also continue to encourage school officials to organize their Dengue School Brigade and to hold a regular clean-up activity. "In this way the students will bring the practice in their respective homes to ensure that these are free from the dengue-carrying mosquitoes," she said.
As of January 1 to August 11, 2007, the IPHO record showed that there around 512 confirmed dengue cases in the province as reported by the IPHO different sentinel sites, other district hospitals, Iloilo City hospitals and Rural Health Units. As of the last count, 7 individuals have died from the disease.
Next to Oton, the other four areas in the province with the most number of dengue cases are Passi City with 68; Sta. Barbara town with 31 cases and 1 fatality; Pavia with 26 cases and 1 fatality; and Concepcion with 23 cases.
Trabado said they will also bring the information drive campaign to Passi City.
(PIA)