BAGUIO CITY – The significant increase in the number of dengue cases here has now become a public health threat. Reportedly, there was a three-fold increase of dengue cases (1,200 cases), overwhelming hospitals with patients and the death of a 57-year old male in the city.
Based on the date of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Health Services Office, dengue cases have increased throughout the year and expected to increase during the rainy season.
Because of this, mayor Mauricio Domogan recently issued Administrative Order No. 075, series of 2016 dubbed as “Oplan Alis Kiti-Kiti, Goodbye Dengue,” directing all constituents, barangays, schools and universities, church organizations, government and private offices in Baguio to do their part in fighting the mosquito-borne disease.
In the order, the HSO was mandated to provide technical assistance to the barangays in the form of trainings, lectures, advisories, and other dengue prevention and control activities; information, education and communication materials to the community; larvicides or adulticides when warranted; to update media on the latest dengue status in the city; to conduct massive campaigns on dengue and must conduct fever surveillance and provide medical consultation on suspected dengue cases and refer patients to hospitals accordingly.
The Department of Health-CAR was directed to provide technical and logistical support to the city government here; assist DOH retained hospitals in implementing Dengue Fast Lanes and the implementation of Anti Hospital Detention Act.
On the other hand, the Department of Interior and Local Government Baguio Field Office must have a monthly monitoring of the actions undertaken by the barangays on dengue and provide accomplishment reports of the barangays to partner agencies when necessary.
Punong barangays and barangay councils were tasked to oversee the implementation of the synchronized community action and sustain the activities in the barangays through organization/activation of barangay Dengue Brigades; to intensify conduct of Search and Destroy activities by mobilizing 100% of households in the community; to allocate and mobilize funds for the conduct of dengue prevention and control activities as part of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management fund, to coordinate with owners of vacant lots to do clean up drives, coordinate with owners of vulcanizing shops for proper tire disposal as well as inclusion of Dengue Prevention and Control Programs in the preparation of Barangay Health Plans; to pass Anti-Dengue Ordinances in the barangays; and to sound the barnagay alarm system daily at 9AM for the community wide search and destroy activities.
To assist the HSO, media and other organization like church organizations in disseminating dengue prevention and control activities such as ringing of church bells daily at 9AM for the community wide Search and Destroy activities and to encourage practitioners/church goers to conduct different dengue prevention and control activities through church announcements.
Individual households were urged to conduct search and destroy activities inside and outside their homes by doing proper solid waste management, elimination of breeding sites, proper disposal of unused tires, covering of drums daily at 9AM; to seek early consultation when experiencing fever of at least two days; wear protective clothings and apply mosquito repellants during the day; and encourage donation of blood as part of the National Blood Donation Program
Public and private schools and universities were mandated to conduct dengue prevention and control activities inside their schools everyday at 9AM, to advise staff and students to wear long pants and sleeves during school days, and school physicians or nurses to conduct fever surveillance and refer accordingly.
Government and private offices were also instructed to be updated of the latest dengue situation in the city; to conduct search and destroy activities everyday at 9AM; to seek early consultation when experiencing fever of at least two days; to wear protective clothings and apply mosquito repellant during the day and encourage donation of blood as part of the National Blood Donation Program
Domogan said, “despite various government efforts, there has been an increase in dengue cases and therefore there is a need for concerted and sustained efforts among all Baguio constituents to mitigate the impact of dengue by synchronizing all available efforts to get rid the dengue carrying mosquitoes”.
Last Thursday, a walk-through clean-up drive was conducted along Lucban-Camdas-Happy Homes-East Quirino Hill-South and North Sanitary Camp with demonstrations on water-letting from tires and water-retaining plants and containers with Congressman Mark Go, Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Vice-Mayor Edison Bilog, health and barangay officials. Department of Health (DOH-CAR) Regional Director Lakshmi Legaspi and Assistant Regional Director Amelita Pangilinan, City Health Services Office (HSO) head Dr. Rowena Galpo and Assistant Dr. John Tinoyan and staff joined the activities in the barangays
Dengue fever is a viral infection with complications such as internal bleeding and lowered blood platelets which may cause death. Bed rest, adequate liquid intake and medical advice, including hospital confinement if needed, could lessen infection. According to Dr. Galpo, the illness is preventable; and if detected early, is treatable.
Later, during the Kapihan at the DOH Training Center, it was emphasized that the ‘search and destroy’ program involves everybody. Water containers should be covered, or disposed of, mosquito breeding sites including water-retaining plants should be dried or eliminated, surroundings cleaned, and protective clothing be worn.
Spraying or fogging has to be synchronized in areas, the health authorities said. Dr. Legaspi mentioned of supplies of larvicides and treated curtains for schools.
Blood supply is sufficient, if needed for transfusions, Legaspi added.
According to Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) infectious diseases head Dr. Pamela Thea Cajulao, hospital consultation should be considered if fever persists beyond two days. A dengue fast lane where patients are immediately booked for laboratory procedures has been installed, it was known. She added that in BGHMC, consultation includes about 40 adults and 10 children, with an average of 10 patients being admitted.
Earlier, Mayor Domogan urged citizens to conduct clean-up activities at 9AM instead of at 4PM. The Laban Kontra Dengue has to be an intense massive action, he said, as health authorities also warned that Dengue is now a year-round threat. The mayor has also issued an administrative order for the involvement of the community, academe, churches, civil society, business organizations, government and private entities.
Aedes aegypti, the dengue carrying mosquito now has evolved and adjusted to the tropical weather. According to health authorities, a portion of clean water is now what they need to survive.
It was known that nationwide, Region 4A (Calabarzon) topped the number of dengue cases followed by Region 7 (Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor), 10 (Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental) and 12 (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Gen. Santos).
An anti-dengue ordinance is being fast-tracked in the city council, Vice-Mayor Bilog also mentioned. The barangays are also closely monitored with information and educational campaigns, Councilors Alangsab and Lawana said. **Jho Arranz and juliegfianza
