President worried over high dengue cases–Ballsy
Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino-Cruz, sister of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, said yesterday her brother is worried over the high incidence of dengue in Iloilo province and areas in the country.
“One Sunday during our reunion, P-Noy told us that we really have to do something about this dengue outbreak and then he asked us if we can help him by going to the places that have been affected,” she said.
Another Aquino sister, Kris, was earlier appointed Ambassador for Dengue Prevention by the Department of Health.
Last year, Kris’ children Joshua and Baby James had dengue.
In Iloilo yesterday, Aquino-Cruz led the turn-over of medicines and fogging machines at Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in Cabatuan town.
Mayor Roberto Maroma said they need medicines because there have been a surge of dengue patients admission in recent weeks.
As of August 31, three already died of dengue in Cabatuan.
Aquino-Cruz also passed by Pavia town where she donated 15 boxes of medicines and a fogging machine to Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta.
The President’s sister said she is very familiar with Pavia because she has already visited the town before.
In Iloilo City, Aquino-Cruz also brought medical supplies to the West Visayas State University Medical Center headed by hospital director, Dr. Ramon Guerra.
Aquino-Cruz said that when she learned that Iloilo is one of the areas with high dengue cases, she asked for assistance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and her other contacts for medicines and fogging machines that she could bring to the province.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. thanked Aquino-Cruz for bringing assistance to Iloilo.
“With the President’s concern, we are confident that we shall overcome this crisis,” he said.
Records of the Provincial Health Office show dengue cases in Iloilo have reached 3,188 from January to August this year, or an increase of 317 percent compared to the previous year’s data for the same period.
As of September 5, however, only 295 dengue patients are confined in the different hospitals in the province.
Defensor said dengue cases in the province are slowly decreasing but he urged the public to sustain the clean-up campaign to eradicate the breeding places of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.*
