Guv raises dengue alert in Iloilo
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. has alerted all the health units and hospitals in the province after a surge in dengue hemorrhagic fever cases among Ilonggos.
Defensor said he is worried about reports that the 12 district hospitals in the province are congested with dengue patients.
“Our health authorities are already attending to it. I have instructed them to make the necessary preparations because a similar scenario is happening in other provinces of the country,” Defensor said.
During a meeting with the department heads last Monday, Defensor instructed the chiefs of hospitals to make available basic medicines needed by the patients.
Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said he is mulling to intensify the voluntary blood donation program to have sufficient blood reserves for
dengue patients.
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office has recorded 789 dengue cases with seven deaths from January to July 23, 2010, with Passi City having the highest number of cases with 96, including one fatality.
Meanwhile, Sangguniang Panlalawigan has declared the months of June, July and August as Dengue Awareness Months to highlight the need for public vigilance and awareness as the best weapon to prevent the spread of dengue fever.
The Provincial Board noted that records from the health department show that the months of June, July and August register the most number of dengue cases.
Dengue fever is caused by day-biting mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopectus, which flourish and thrive on stagnant pools of water, swampy and moist places which are common during rainy seasons and triggered by the absence of cleanliness and sanitation.
