Guv: Free medical service for poor dengue patients
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. said the district hospitals in the province now render free medical service for indigent dengue patients.
“We are trying our best to make the people believe that our district hospitals are for the poor,” he said. “Tig-gulutom subong (It is lean season). By all means, we will extend help to those dengue patients in need.”
Defensor said district hospitals should have a place for indigent patients and should be treated equally with the paying patients.
A total of 12 dengue deaths and 1, 670 cases were already recorded in Iloilo.
Deaths were recorded in Passi City, and the towns of Guimbal, Cabatuan, Calinog, Janiuay, Banate and Dingle.
Defensor has issued Executive Order 31 creating the Task Force “Say No to Dengue” to enforce intensive and sustained information dissemination campaign against the mosquito-borne disease.
Task Force “Say No to Dengue” is chaired by Defensor with Provincial Health Officer Patricia Grace Trabado as vice chairperson and action officer.
The task force will initiate the distribution of flyers or reading materials on how to prevent dengue fever through the League of Municipalities of the Philippines and the Liga ng mga Barangay.
Anti-Rabies Drive
Meanwhile, the provincial government has increased the logistics support on its anti-rabies campaign with an initial P1 million was allocated for various activities.
Defensor said the amount will be used to improve the educational component of the campaign, including information dissemination and rabies awareness.
Rabies is highly fatal disease caused by lyssavirus transmitted mainly through bite of an infected animal and is characterized by muscle paralysis, hydrophobia and aerophobia.
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office has recorded four deaths due to human rabies from the towns of Maasin, Janiuay, Lemery and Badiangan.
A total of 65 deaths in the province were already listed by the IPHO in the last six years.
Although, the number is not quite alarming however, Defensor said public awareness could help educate the community on how to contain this rabies.
