CHO ordered to intensify anti-dengue drive

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Outgoing Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia directed the City Health Office here to intensify its Barangay Anti-Dengue efforts after a noted increase in dengue cases here.

CHO record showed that as of June 11, 2022, Bacolod City tallied 207 cases with four deaths.

The figure, according to the Bacolod City Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (BCESU), is 137.3 percent higher compared to the same period last year with only 87 cases and two fatalities.

“Much like COVID-19, dengue is no laughing matter. We cannot afford another pandemic,” Leonardia said

He urged barangay leaders and health workers to coordinate with the CHO as they conduct their anti-dengue programs to curb the spread of the illness.

The mayor also advised city folks to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings especially now that occasional rains in the afternoons signal the start of the rainy season.

City Health Office Environment Sanitation Division Chief Dr. Grace Tan identified 15 barangays with clustered dengue cases, or areas with two or more reports within one or more than two successive weeks.

These are Barangays Tangub, Villamonte, Mandalagan, Estefania, Taculing, Felisa, Sum-ag, Bata, Cabug, Mansilingan, Alijis, Barangay 32, Barangay 40, Granada and Handumanan.

Barangay Estefania recorded the highest number of dengue cases with 21, followed by Barangay Tangub, 20; Singcang, 18; Mandalagan, 16; Mansilingan and Sum-ag, 14; Villamonte, 13; Granada, 12; Alijis, 11 and Taculing, 9.

Most common breeding places documented from the mentioned Barangays are plants, uncovered bottles and water containers and empty fishponds.

Tan likewise encouraged barangays to practice the 4S against dengue: Search and destroy all possible breeding areas of mosquitoes; Seek early consultation; Secure self-protective measures and Say Yes to fogging and spraying only when where is clustering of cases.

The CHO is also partnering with Barangays in the conduct of Executive Order No. 17 or the creation of the Anti-Dengue Committee and the Barangay Anti-Dengue Task Force, alongside the distribution of larvicides, trimedia campaign, fogging and spraying in and around index cases and schools, epidemiological surveys, coordination with the Liga ng Barangay, partnership with establishments, Dengue Noise Caravans and the activation of Dengue Fast Lanes in health centers.