Blood donation drive to highlight ‘Dengue Day’ in Iloilo

By: Leonard T. Pineda I

THE ILOILO City government here, through the City Health Office, in partnership with the Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD)-6 commemorates “Dengue Day” today, June 14, 2019 at the Diamond Jubilee Hall here.

Maria Lourdes Monegro, DOH-CHD 6 Regional Entomologist, said a blood donation drive is one of the highlights of the event which is in line with the ASEAN Dengue Day held every June 15.

“The blood donation drive will be facilitated by the Philippine Red Cross,” she said.

She said this advocacy event aims to increase public awareness of dengue; mobilize resources for its prevention and control; and demonstrate the commitment of ASEAN into tackling the disease.

The conduct of such advocacy  event  was  agreed  upon  during  the  10th  ASEAN  Health  Ministers  Meeting in Singapore in 2010, according to DOH-CHD-6

Monegro said there will be a motorcade in major thoroughfares in the city and a program will be held at the Diamond Jubilee Hall.

“There will also be booths and kiosks in the venue that will promote the advocacy to further raise public awareness on dengue,” she said.

Meanwhile, data from DOH-CHD 6 showed that a total of 8,613 dengue cases were recorded in Western Visayas from January 1 to June 1, 2019.

Monegro said these cases reflect an increase of 198 percent compared to the cases recorded in the same period last year.

According to DOH-6, Aklan recorded 1,019 cases; Antique, 285; Capiz, 1,245; Guimaras, 187; Iloilo Province, 2,516; Iloilo City, 557; Negros Occidental, 2,277; and Bacolod City, 433. (PIA-Iloilo)