Dengue epidemic puts Iloilo under state of calamity
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo yesterday approved a resolution declaring a state of calamity in the province because of dengue outbreak.
The declaration came after the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council headed by Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. passed a resolution recommending to the SP the “immediate declaration of the entire province under a state of calamity with mitigating measures therein.”
Defensor said the provincial government will now be allowed to use its five percent calamity fund to assist dengue patients.
Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado, provincial health officer, said there is a dengue epidemic in the entire province where there is “an occurrence of an unusual number of cases of the disease over a particular period of time.”
As of August 10, the PHO recorded a total of 1,669 dengue cases in the province.
“We have higher ‘epidemic threshold’ this year that’s why we need to have early prevention especially in areas with the highest number of cases,” she said.
PHO has also recorded 12 deaths in the towns of Pototan, Guimbal, Cabatuan, Calinog, Janiuay, Dingle, Leon, Banate, Oton, and Passi City.
Pototan has the highest number of dengue cases with 162, followed by Passi City, 157; Tigbauan, 137; Guimbal, 111; Cabatuan, 77; Tubungan, 71; Calinog, 70; Janiuay, 64; Barotac Nuevo, 62; Alimodian, 51; Barotac Viejo, 50;
Dingle, 37; Oton, 34; Dumangas, Pavia and Sta. Barbara, 33 each; Leon and San Miguel, 31 each; Sara, 28; Miag-ao, 24; Dueñas, 23; San Joaquin, 23; Ajuy, 22; Banate, 19; and Bingawan, 14.
The PDRRMC in its resolution recommended mitigating measures to address the dengue outbreak in the province.
The mitigating measures are divided into two components, the Emergency Mosquito Control and Case Management and Treatment.
The Emergency Mosquito Control aspect will have the following activities: health advocacy and promotion of 4S Kontra Dengue through tri-media campaign, community assemblies, individual teachings, house-to-house campaign, and school-based teachings; production, reproduction of IEC materials; province-wide clean-up drive; monitoring and evaluation and incentives and rewards.
Meanwhile, the Case Management and Treatment will include the following measures: health facility enhancement especially on rural health units and district hospitals; hiring of additional health manpower, conducting blood-letting activities, and strengthening of Provincial Epidemiological Surveillance Unit.*
