CASES of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Western Visayas are now almost 1,500. From Jan. 1 to April 1 this year, 1,465 dengue cases were recorded – 136 percent higher than the 620 cases logged in the same period last year, data from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 showed.
Iloilo province listed the highest cases at 385, followed by Negros Occidental with 348, Aklan (191), Capiz (136), Antique (133), Iloilo City (126), Bacolod City (112), and Guimaras (33). One case was contracted from another region but was detected in Western Visayas.
Data also showed the youngest victim of dengue in Region 6 was 29 days old while the oldest was 93 years old. The age group with the most number of cases was one to 10 years old.
We cannot overemphasize the importance of enforcing the law on ecological solid waste management (ESWM) to prevent dengue cases from spiraling out of control. Local government units (LGUs) and the general public must enhance the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, to control the deadly disease.
Enacted in 2000, RA 9003 promotes waste avoidance and volume reduction, segregation at source, reusing, recycling, composting and other best practices in ESWM excluding incineration.
The application of ecological solid waste management as espoused in RA 9003 in every household and community will deprive Aedes egypti mosquitoes, the primary vector of the dengue virus, with places to lay their eggs.
Aside from controlling dengue and other health benefits, enforcing RA 9003 will cut the volume and toxicity of garbage, reduce hauling costs, curb environmental contamination, address climate pollution, prevent flooding and marine litter, conserve resources, and generate recycling-based jobs and livelihoods for local communities.
According to the World Health Organization, “applying many of the basic principles (of solid waste management) can contribute substantially to reducing Aedes egypti larval habitats.”
Indeed, proper storage, collection and disposal of waste are essential for protecting public health from dengue – and other diseases.
