BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – This city government has tapped various stakeholders to take a proactive approach to curb the rising cases of dengue.
The latest statistics from the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) report 975 dengue cases with six deaths in the city.
This prompted the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) to meet with different stakeholders and launch a unified approach amid the spike of dengue hemorrhagic fever in the metropolis.
“We need to call on everyone to join us in this fight; otherwise, the cases will just keep on increasing, which can lead to more deaths,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas, who is also the chairperson of CDRRMC.
The City Health Office (CHO) under the CDRRMC Health and Sanitation Cluster met with representatives from private schools and universities, the transport sector, and homeowners’ associations on Aug. 30.
The city health officials will meet with the business groups and public schools today, Sept. 2, and the religious on Sept. 6.
By involving different sectors such as barangay officials, health workers, schools, and community organizations, the city aims to strengthen its efforts in promoting awareness and prevention measures. This collaboration will include intensified information campaigns, community clean-up drives to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, and the distribution of mosquito nets and repellents.
Likewise, the city is bolstering its efforts in monitoring and responding to dengue cases by ensuring prompt medical attention and support for those affected.
With the number of dengue cases rising, this proactive approach aims to curb the further spread of the disease and protect public health.
On the other hand, the mayor directed the CHO to conduct briefings on the need for massive clean-up in the community and how to identify and destroy mosquito breeding grounds.
The health officials conducted a series of webinars participated in by barangays and other members of the CDRRMC.
During their regular session on Aug. 28, the city councilors unanimously approved the CDRRMC resolution, which also sought for release of P7.04 million as a calamity fund to combat the outbreak more effectively.
The number also corresponds to an attack rate of 189.82 percent per 100, 000 population, with one to 10-year-old children as the most affected age group.
“The current weather condition and the vulnerabilities of the communities and people in the barangays, it requires urgent need to declare an outbreak so that immediate assistance can be provided by the city government,” the CDRRMC resolution read.
With the declaration of a state of calamity, the city council also approved the utilization of a P7.04-million calamity fund to enable the implementation of intensified advocacy and response measures.
The allocation includes P4.75 million for Deltamethrin (Deltahor), P900,000 for Moztak granules, P390,000 for a motorized sprayer and P1 million for dengue duo test kits and other medical supplies for the hydration unit.
The health officials also recorded an increased number of cases compared to the previous year, or a 3-5 years average number of cases.
The Health and Sanitation Cluster also formulated an outbreak response plan to curb the spread of the outbreak, which includes advocacy, surveillance, immunization activities, proper treatment, and management and procurement of medicines and other commodities.
The City Health Office has also set up two hydration units at La Paz Health Center for the management of cases. CHO is also conducting misting operations in public schools, public places, and hotspots.
The 30-bed capacity hydration units are crucial in providing immediate care, particularly for those experiencing severe dehydration, a common complication of dengue fever.
These units will also operate 24 hours to ensure that patients receive timely and adequate fluid replacement therapy, which is vital in managing dengue.
These hydration units will be manned by doctors and nurses, who will offer care 24/7 to reduce dengue-related morbidity and mortality, especially during this peak dengue season.
City health officials have urged residents to take preventive measures, such as eliminating mosquito breeding sites, using insect repellent, and seeking early medical attention if symptoms appear.
City health officials have also been conducting awareness campaigns to educate residents on dengue prevention.
These campaigns emphasize the importance of the 4S strategy: search and destroy breeding sites, self-protection measures, seek early consultation, and support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas.
The city government has asked residents to ramp up their efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, which are crucial in controlling the spread of dengue./PN
