ILOILO – The provincial government, through the Provincial Gender and Development Council (PGADC) and Technical Working Group (TWG), celebrated Women’s Month through the women-led province-wide “Limpyo Iloilo kontra Dengue and Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease” (HFMD) yesterday.
The cleanup drive aims to raise awareness that small things could have big impacts, especially in alleviating dengue and HFMD cases.
The activity would extend to the entire province for the whole March.
Why women-led?
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) Planning Officer IV and PGADC-TWG chairperson Roxanne Baluya-Octaviano said it is to give value to the new recurring theme for 2023 to 2028: “WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society.”
“WE stands for women and everyone,” said Octaviano.
From January to February this year, the province logged 2,407 HFMD cases – 2,214 percent higher than the 104 cases in the same period last year, according to the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
The top 10 local government units with the highest cases from Jan. 1 to Feb. 25 are the following: Santa Barbara (350), Alimodian (141), Leon (127), Calinog (126), Badiangan (120), Barotac Viejo (110), Passi City (92), Bingawan (90), Mina (90), and Banate (78).
For dengue cases, the province logged 227 cases from Jan. 1 to Feb. 25 – 177 percent higher than the 82 cases and five deaths in the same period last year.
The top 10 towns and component city with the highest cases are: Estancia (18), Barotac Nuevo (17), Banate (16), Alimodian (14), Pototan (11), Lemery (10), Cabatuan (nine), Balasan (nine), Carles (eight), and Passi City (eight).
Here are the other activities for the 2023 Women’s Month celebration in Iloilo:
* #PurpleZumba – every Wednesday (March 15, 22, and 29) 7:30 a.m. in the capitol lobby
* #PurpleWednesdays – wearing of purple shirt/top or anything purple every Wednesday
* Expression of Women’s Resiliency – March 29, 9 a.m. at Casa Real de Iloilo
* #PurpleYourOffice contest – awarding of winners will be on March 29./PN
