LGUs told to activate anti-dengue task force

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Friday asked local government units (LGUs) to activate their respective anti-dengue task force to curb the uptick in dengue cases in the province.

Lacson told reporters here that he met with the city health officers of the towns and cities in the province to check on the preparedness as far as dengue is concerned.

“I can say wala man sila nag kulang,” Lacson said regarding the preparedness of the LGUs.

He further said that the awareness campaign is already there as early as January.

“Basically, the message is to expect more rain in the months of August so it’s possible the number may rise.”

But Lacson pointed out that records from the Provincial Health Office showed that the 10 LGUs with the highest number of cases are showing a downward trend in infections.

“We hope to control the increase in cases, ” the governor said.

Negros Occidental has 2,096 cases with 10 deaths, an increase of 1,863 cases from January to July 9 this year, or an 823 percent increase compared to 233 cases in 2021, according to a report of the Department of Health-Western Visayas.

Dengue cases in Bacolod City totaled 293, an increase of 159 percent compared to the previous year.

Lacson said it appears that City and Municipal Health Officers were not remiss in their duties in the fight against dengue as early as this year.

He also said that LGUs had allocated budget for dengue response, as health officers admitted to receiving assistance from the provincial government in addressing cases in their respective areas.

Lacson told CHOs and MHOs of his plans to meet with the mayors, to ensure that there is a budget for dengue every year.

At the same time, he also reminded to activate their respective dengue task force which will address the dengue problem.

As to reports that some land owners barred government health personnel from entering their private property, the governor said he will ask the mayors to talk to them.