ILOILO City – When local governments fail to invest in dengue preventive measures, outbreaks ensue, according to Health secretary Francisco Duque who visited yesterday Iloilo city province where there is an ongoing dengue epidemic.
“We should not belittle the importance of 4S,” said Duque, referring to the strategy that the Department of Health (DOH) is promoting to prevent dengue.
There is no specific treatment for dengue yet so prevention is the wisest thing to do, he stressed.
The 4S strategy stands for: search and destroy mosquito breeding places, self-protection measures, seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days, and say “no” to indiscriminate fogging.
“More than ever, prevention is key. If you fail on the preventive side, you will see a lot of this epidemic and this is going to be a burden to the health system, especially the local health system,” said Duque.
DOH declared a dengue outbreak in the region last week.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness that could sometimes be fatal. Its carriers are day-biting mosquitoes (Aedes albpictus and Aedes aegypti) that live and breed and clean, stagnant water.
Duque said local governments in Western Visayas must promote and practice 4S.
“Preventing dengue is the better option to the expensive business of treating patients and exposing them to deadly complications,” the Health chief stressed.
Duque had a closed-door meeting with local chief executives yesterday morning.
He also inspected government hospitals such as the West Visayas State University Medical Center, Western Visayas Medical Center, the rural health unit in Cabatuan, Iloilo and Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital also in Cabatuan.
He ordered an intensified dengue response.
As of July 13, DOH Region 6 recorded 18,834 dengue cases – 259 percent higher than the 5,251 cases recorded last year from Jan. 1 to July 13.
There were also 94 deaths in the region, with the province of Negros Occidental recording the highest number at 24.
The age range of dengue patients was from 27 days old to 98 years old, DOH data showed. But the most number of cases was with the one- to 10-year-old age group.
According to the World Health Organization, individuals should suspect dengue when a high fever (40 degrees centigrade) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea / vomiting, swollen glands, muscle and joint pains, and rash.
For severe dengue, the warning signs to look out for are: severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, blood in vomit, fatigue, and restlessness.
As part of DOH’s logistical support to local governments, Duque said P39,191,146 worth of dengue commodities were provided to six provinces and two highly urbanized city in the region (Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros, Iloilo City and Bacolod City).
These commodities included NS1 Rapid Dengue Test Kits, mosquito adulticides, larvicides, insecticide-treated mosquito nets and screens, oral rehydration solutions, spray cans and misting machines.
On the other hand, as support to the human resource needs of hospitals due to the influx of dengue patients, Duque said 229 “human resources for health” were temporarily assigned to provincial and district hospitals since July 15. These were 16 doctors, 189 nurses and 24 medical technologists.
Meanwhile, four ward tents, four TEICO AC Units, 60 cot beds and 120 linens were received by the provincial government on July 21 from the Philippine Red Cross. Two of these ward tents were set up at the Jesus Colmenares District Hospital in Balasan, Iloilo.
Duque said resource mobilization utilizing the 2019 MAIP funds worth P198.34 million will also be implemented to assist dengue patients referred for admission from government hospitals to private health facilities through a memorandum of agreement between the provincial government and private hospitals.
Data from DOH (Jan. 1 to July 13, 2019) showed Iloilo with the most number of cases at 6,472 followed by Negros Occidental (3,639), Capiz (3,139), Aklan (2,460), Antique (869), Iloilo City (867), Guimaras (706), Bacolod City (635), and others (47)./PN
