LGU must review dengue action plan
Department of Health (DoH)–6 Regional Epidemiologist Dr. Glen Alonsabe recommended the review of the strategy employed by the city and province of Iloilo in eliminating the occurrence of dengue cases. The 16 dengue deaths for Iloilo City are considered alarming and need to be addressed by the local government unit. The local government units must formulate effective action plan.
Alonsabe’s statement was relative to the increasing number of dengue cases and deaths in Iloilo City and Iloilo province. The city has the most number of cases and deaths in the entire Western Visayas. In the DOH-6 report, there are 447 dengue cases and 16 confirmed deaths in the city. It has an increase of 3.5 percent when compared to last year’s figure. The figure covers from January to July 11, 2009. The department’s statistics however contradicted with that of the City Health Office (CHO).
In the DOH-6 report, Iloilo province has 333 cases and five deaths. The increase of 1.5 was noted. In 2008, Iloilo province has only 244 cases and one death on the same period.
The city government is observing the 4S strategies which are: search and destroy mosquitoes breeding places; self protection; seek immediate medical attention and say no to indiscriminate fogging. However, there is still a noted increase in the number of dengue cases. With the increasing number of dengue cases, apparently, “we have to check what we search and destroy,” said Alonsabe.
Alonsabe also stressed the importance of the community and the school involvement in the city in preventing dengue-related deaths. The participation of the community and the schools is essential in the campaign against the spread of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes. The health department is focusing its action on the vulnerable communities and schools in the city.
In the clustering of barangays, Barangays Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo; San Juan, Molo and Veterans Village, City Proper have the most number of dengue cases. The same DOH-6 report did not identify the barangays in the province which have the most number of dengue cases.
The barangays with the most number of recorded dengue cases are those considered as “waterless areas” in the city. They do not have enough water supply and they have to collect and store water in containers for their daily use. They have to clean their containers regularly to prevent the mosquitoes from laying their eggs and wash out the wrigglers before they become mature mosquitoes, said Alonsabe.
There is a need for the barangays to exert extra efforts in the dengue campaign to lessen the cases as well as number of deaths. There has to be participation from the community especially in populated areas. The same way with the different schools as school children becomes the vulnerable victim of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes, said Alonsabe.
Earlier, Mayor Jerry Treñas has already issued executive orders to the city’s 180 barangay captains to initiate a continuous clean up activities in their respective barangays, yet the number of dengue cases still increased. Before the onset of the rainy season, the city government has initiated information campaign in different barangays. Reading materials and flyers were distributed in different barangays and media advocacies were likewise conducted to inform the residents about the dreaded dengue disease.
While, Gov. Niel Tupas Sr has also its own campaign plan and several radio plugging to send his message to those in far-flung barangays regarding dengue.