ILOILO – Alarmed by the high number of dengue cases in the province, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan urged local government units to actively use the strategy that the Department of Health promotes to fight the spread of the viral disease.
Local governments are no stranger to the 4S strategy against dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases, said 2nd District Provincial Board member Liecel Mondejar-Seville.
But the health and sanitation committee chair suspects that the campaign against dengue may be taking a backseat amid the many programs and policies the towns and the component city of Passi need to comply with.
“I noticed that sometimes LGUs (local government units) forget about the anti-dengue campaign. They must be reminded,” Seville said.
A total of 829 dengue cases with four deaths were recorded in the province from January to Aug. 4 this year, Seville said, citing data from the Provincial Health Office.
In comparison, for the entire 2017, the province had only 505 cases with seven deaths.
“Alarming na kon tan-awon naton … kag basi may mapatay pa gid,” said Seville, who filed the resolution urging local governments in the province to intensify the application of the 4S strategy.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the resolution on Aug. 14 – the same day Seville filed it.
The 4S strategy includes the following:
* Search and destroy mosquito breeding places
* Self-protection measures
* Seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days
* Say “no” to indiscriminate fogging
Barangay officials must actively participate in the campaign as well, the Board member stressed.
“Sa barangays mas gamay ang area kag mahapos nga i-implement [ang 4S strategy],” she said.
The public must actively search for sites where mosquitoes may possibly lay eggs, said Seville.
Dengue may be transferred from one person to another via mosquito bites.
The disease has the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus as vectors (carriers). They breed in stagnant, clear water.
“Bisan payâ, botelya nga nakasupot tubig … kag ang tanan nga nagakayâ, pakulbon,” Seville said.
She also advised children, especially schoolchildren, to wear trousers and long-sleeved shirts to minimize the exposed parts of their bodies that may be bitten by mosquitoes.
Moreover, anyone with a fever that goes beyond two days must get themselves checked by a physician at the nearest rural health unit, Seville said.
Lastly, the Board member stressed that sometimes fogging does not kill the mosquitoes but only drive them away./PN
