ILOILO – Today, International Women’s Day, women are spearheading the provincial government’s Iloilo-wide “Limpyo Iloilo Kontra Dengue”.
It is also a way to mark March as National Women’s Month, said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
He described “Limpyo Iloilo Kontra Dengue” as a “convergence” of flagship programs of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), Provincial Health Office (PHO), and Provincial Gender and Development (GAD) Council that recognize “women’s role and contribution in nation-building and as agents of national development.”
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease. As of Feb. 19, the province recorded 59 cases with two deaths. The mosquitoes causing it breed in clean, stagnant water.
“Limpyo Iloilo Kontra Dengue” has the following salient features:
* clean-up activities led by Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI), female Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), and other women in the barangay
* promotion of solid waste management
* promotion of the 5S strategy against dengue
The 5S strategy against dengue are the following:
* search and destroy mosquito breeding sites
* seek early consultation
* self-protection
* say “yes” to fogging only in hotspot areas; and
* social distancing and other minimum public health standards
Last week, Defensor placed the entire province under dengue Alert Level 5 so that people would be compelled to follow the “5S” strategy.
“We are preparing for another war, which hopefully will not happen,” said the governor, referring to the historical data showing dengue outbreaks in Iloilo every three years.
This year is the third year in this three-year cycle.
From 2013 to 2021, the province recorded high dengue cases – 6,564 in 2013; 9,392 in 2016; and the highest was 22,169 in 2019.
In 2014, the province had 2,289 dengue cases; 330 in 2015; 1,340 in 2017; 2,316 in 2018; 707 in 2020; and 486 in 2021. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
