DOH10 calls to intensify the anti-dengue campaign of LGU’s

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

Friday 20th of July 2012

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, July 20 (PIA) -- The Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD), Region 10 has reiterated its call for the local government units (LGUs) to intensify their anti-dengue information campaign.

This, after the number of dengue cases that were admitted to the different sentinel hospitals in the region has continued to rise, from 1,023 as of May 25 to 1,720 as of July 6 this year.

This means there were 697 more cases or an increase of 68.13 percent of the dengue cases in the region in less than a month, as per data at the Regional Epidemiology, Surveillance and Disaster Response Unit (RESDRU) of DOH-10.

Compared with the same period last year there were only 220 cases or an increase of 28.27 percent, from 778 to 998 cases, Dr. David Mendoza, head of RESDRU, said.

Considering the significant increase, this year, Mendoza challenged the LGUs to activate the Bantay Dengue Brigades or the “dengue warriors” in their barangays in the wake of the rising number of dengue cases in the region, especially during this rainy season.

“The LGUs should intensify the information, education and communication (IEC) drive on the fight against dengue through the 4S method or the search and destroy, apply self-protection measures, seek early consultation and say ‘no’ to indiscriminate fogging,” Mendoza said.

Meanwhile, a total of 33 barangays in Region 10 have been found to have three or more cases of dengue in the past four weeks, 20 of which were located in Cagayan de Oro City, seven in Misamis Oriental, four in Iligan City and two in Bukidnon.

In Cagayan de Oro, these barangays included the following: Agusan, Balulang, Barangay 26, Bayabas, Bugo, Bulua, Camaman-an, Canitoan, Carmen, Cugman, Gusa, Iponan, Kauswagan, Lapasan, Macabalan, Macasandig, Nazareth, Patag, Puerto, Tablon.

In Iligan City, the barangays were Poblacion, Luinab, Saray and Tibanga while in Misamis Oriental the areas were Poblacion and Sta. Cruz in Tagoloan, Imelda and San Martin in Villanueva, Taytay in El Salvador, Barra in Opol and Lunao in Gingoog City, while those in Bukidnon were Kiburiao in Quezon and Poblacion in Valencia City.

The July 6 DESDRU Report show that Misamis Oriental had the highest number of 1,275 dengue cases, or 74.13 percent.

This was followed by Bukidnon with 203 cases or 11.8 percent, Lanao del Norte, 184 cases or 10.69 percent, Misamis Occidental, 52 cases or 3.02 percent and Camiguin, six cases or 0.34 percent.

Among the cities, Cagayan de Oro posted the highest number of 903 cases or 52.5 percent, followed by Iligan, 136 cases or 7.90 percent, Gingoog and Valencia City, 42 cases or 2.44 percent each, Malaybalay, 19 cases or 1.10 percent, and El Salvador, 18 cases or 1.04 percent.

The three cities of Misamis Occidental posted the lowest number of dengue cases during the period: Ozamiz with 18 cases or 1.04 percent, Oroquieta, 11 cases or 0.63 percent and Tangub, six cases or 0.03 percent, the DOH report show. (PIA-Mis. Occ.)