ILOILO – The Department of Health in Region 6 (DOH-6) is appealing for cooperation from the residents through maintaining cleanliness in every household following the launching of the anti-dengue campaign of the Iloilo provincial government.
Dubbed “Limpyo sa Hunyo: Panglimpyo para sa Dengue kag Baha,” Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. led the launching at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol yesterday morning.
Defensor said the provincial government wants to sustain the cleanup drive against dengue and make it a daily habit in the province.
“We want to institutionalize dengue cleanup as a habit. It is a very simple solution but is very effective,” he said.
Limpyo sa Hunyo 2022 is a clean-up and clearing operation against dengue and flooding which is being implemented through Executive Order 271, Series of 2022.
It includes the implementation of the 5S Strategy against dengue namely Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites, employ Self-protection measures, Seek early consultation, Support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas, and Safety and health protocols.
DOH-6 Director III Dr. Ma. Sophia Pulmones, meanwhile, acknowledged the big role of the national and provincial governments, municipalities and barangays in preventing dengue outbreak, but she pointed out the bigger role of every household in the fight against dengue.
Pulmones said the simple cleaning of every household and its surroundings through practicing 4S strategy against dengue is a big help.
“We would like to remind the general public that prevention of dengue is everyone’s concern. Indi lang iya sang probinsya, indi lang sang national government or local government unit (LGUs) but aton ini tanan. So, dengue prevention starts at the municipality, in every barangay, in every purok but most important sa aton tagsa-tagsa ka mga panimalay. So, this is very important that all of us, in our respective household, start to do dengue prevention and control,” said Pulmones who was also present during the launching of Limpyo sa Hunyo 2022.
Pulmones also stressed that there is a need for an aggressive campaign against the disease as this year marks the epidemic threshold of dengue which occurs every three years.
To recall, Iloilo province declared a dengue outbreak in 2019 after recording 22,169 cases with 78 deaths. Hospitals and rural health units were overwhelmed with dengue patients.
From January 1 to June 11, 2022, the Provincial Health Office has reported 460 cases, including 6 deaths. Several barangays have also recorded clustering of cases.
“Indi naton gusto nga matabu ato liwat nga madamo ang aton kaso kag madamo ang aton nga mga napatay and na-overwhelm ang aton health facilities and hospitals and RHUs sang dengue cases. Kon madumdoman didto ginpangbutang sa gymnasium ang mga pasyante nga ginadala sa RHUs, so we do not want a repeat of that scenario this year,” Pulmones added.
She also lauded the province of Iloilo for its “urgent action to respond to the increasing risk of dengue outbreak” through the clean-up drive.
“This is your public pronouncement of commitment to further raise awareness to prevent and institute actions to respond to the challenges of dengue,” Pulmones said, adding that the DOH will provide all the needed assistance to the provincial government’s fight against dengue.
As of June 11, Iloilo province recorded a total of 460 dengue cases with six deaths – 167 percent higher compared to the 172 cases with zero death reported in the same period last year.
Here is the breakdown of 460 dengue cases with six deaths per town: San Joaquin (105), Guimbal (49 cases with two deaths), Tubungan (46), Miag-ao (22 cases with one death), Oton (21), Pototan (18), Estancia (17), Tigbauan (16), Dumangas (11), Santa Barbara (10), Passi City (nine cases with one death), San Dionisio (nine), Balasan (eight), Concepcion (eight), Carles (seven), Sara (seven), Cabatuan (seven), Calinog (seven) Leon (six), Barotac Nuevo (six), Igbaras (six cases with one death), Ajuy (five), San Enrique (five), Pavia (five), Dueñas (five), Alimodian (five), Janiuay (five), Dingle (four), Leganes (four cases with one death), New Lucena (four), Lemery (four), Batad (three), Zarraga (three), Barotac Viejo (three), Lambunao (two), Banate (two), Badiangan (two), Mina (one), San Miguel (one), Bingawan (one), and Maasin (one).
The only towns which logged zero dengue cases are Anilao and San Rafael.
Meanwhile, nine towns registered clustering of dengue cases as of June 11. These were in the following areas:
● Pandan in Dueñas (three)
● Tamboilan in Dumangas (four)
● Bongon San Vicente (four), Burgos-Gengos (three), Cabasi (four), Bagumbayan Poblacion (six), and Cabubugan (five), all in Guimbal
● Tumagboc in Miag-ao (three)
● Santa Rita in Oton (four)
● Cau-ayan in Pototan (three)
● Igburi (nine), Qui-anan (22), Lawigan (16), and Siwaragan (three), all in San Joaquin
● Teniente Benito (four) and Lanag Sur (12), all in Tubungan
There is clustering if there are at least three cases within four consecutive weeks.
Dengue is caused by day-biting Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that breed in clean, stagnant water./PN
