Capiz strengthens drive vs dengue
The Capiz provincial government is now reinforcing its campaign against dengue fever following the sudden increase in cases in the province.
Board Member Emily Ardivilla, health committee chairperson, said there is a need to be more vigilant in the campaign, adding that the people of Capiz should do their share to prevent dengue fever.
Dengue fever is caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, and rash.
As of July 29, Capiz has recorded 1,285 dengue cases, with 10 deaths.
Of the number, 48 patients are from the nearby provinces of Aklan and Antique who were brought to hospitals in Capiz.
“This is such an alarming number considering that we recorded only 306 dengue cases from January to December 2009,” Ardivilla, a physician, said.
She noted that people tend to be passive in their response to the government’s anti-dengue efforts that is why the Capiz provincial government has intensified its anti-dengue drive.
“There should be a strict implementation of prevention and control measures against dengue,” Ardivilla said.
The Capiz Provincial Board, during its regular session last July 29, supported Gov. Victor Tanco’s order, “declaring the province of Capiz under the state of impending dengue outbreak in the 16 municipalities and one component city and directing the local chief executives, the local government unit, barangay officials, and other government officials concerned to take urgent necessary and appropriate actions to avert a full-blown dengue epidemic.”
Ardivilla said they are looking for solutions to avert a possible full-blown dengue epidemic in Capiz.
For now, she said they are planning to appropriate a budget for hospitals, especially that most patients are now on the curative level.
Some doctors have complained that the hospitals’ 100-bed capacity is not enough to cater to the rising number of dengue patients, she said.
“That’s why, it’s common now for some hospitals to have two patients in a single bed,” the official said.
Ardivilla said the provincial government is also considering giving assistance to the dengue patients.
