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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Tuesday, March 13, 2018
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MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) was urged to allot a portion of the P1.16-billion refund from Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur to improve readiness for a dengue outbreak.
A total of 10,980 new dengue cases have been reported between Jan. 1 and Feb. 10 this year, said the DOH.
Hospitals must provide laboratory blood tests even if dengue symptoms are not present in patients while health care providers must undergo adequate training on dengue diagnosis, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said.
“In countries like the Philippines where tropical diseases like dengue are endemic, the readiness of hospitals is as vital as their response to the situation,” he pointed out.
Earlier the DOH said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved its request to use the Dengvaxia refund for the purchase of P324 million worth of dengue kits.
These kits will be distributed to the more than 837,000 public school students inoculated with the controversial vaccine.
“The bulk of these funds should be made readily available to respond to any health complications that may arise in children vaccinated by Dengvaxia,” said Gatchalian.
Moreover, he encouraged communities and schools to get rid of dengue-carrying mosquitoes through fumigation, fogging and proper waste disposal, among others./PN
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