BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Baguio City Health Services Office (CHSO) is calling for a whole-of-community approach against dengue fever as cases in the city continue to rise. From January 1, 2024 to August 15, 2024, the CHSO recorded a total of 6,038 dengue cases including those who are not residents but sought medical attention in health facilities in the city.
Of the said number, 4,850 cases are from Baguio CHSO City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) head Dr. Donnabel Panes said the current number of cases is much higher compared to 618 dengue cases recorded in the same period last year. There were also ten dengue-related deaths.
Panes shared that most of infected are aged 16 to 25, and 2,482 are females while 2,368 are males. She also reported that 104 out of 128 barangays in the city have already registered at least three dengue cases for the past four weeks.
The top 10 barangays with the greatest number of cases are Irisan, Bakakeng Central, Asin Road, Sto. Tomas Proper, Pacdal, Gibraltar, Camp 7, Loakan Proper, Bakakeng Norte, and Pinget. Panes underscored that there a need is to mobilize the communities in the fight against dengue.
“Itong panahong ito, this is where we want to see people working together, the community cleaning together at the same time. Hindi puwedeng ‘yung isa na lang ang maglinis, si kapitan na lang, si kagawad na lang. We will not be able to bend the curve on this dengue unless we do it together,” Panes stated.
The CESU chief emphasized that community effort is very critical even at the household level. She shared that during their community surveillance, dengue larvae were seen in water samples gathered from a pitcher of a household. Panes stressed that everyone must do their part.
“We call on everyone, we call on individual people, the community and the household level, set a time, be intentional, in the clean-up drive, making sure that you really go sa kasuluk-sulokan ng bahay mo.”
The CHSO continues its information, education campaigns about dengue prevention and control. It also distribute larvicides to schools, workplaces, and communities.
Meanwhile, Mayor Benjamin Magalong advised the public to be cautious and be aware of dengue. The city government has intensified the implementation of the Anti-Dengue ordinance including the imposition of penalties against those who do not follow the dengue control measures. The ordinance prohibits the following: storing water in containers not tightly covered, keeping or storing water filled vases and using ornamental plants with pot saucer and axilled plants for a long period, keeping or having discarded tires, discharging wastewater or sewage unto streets, roads, alleys and pathways, and conducting chemical control methods without clearance from the CHSO and the Department of Health. (DEG-PIA CAR)
