Dengue Update
2, 3 Sept. 2010
Due to rise in the number of dengue fever cases, President Benigno Aquino III ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to support and assist all regional hospitals and health centers in attending the needs of the patients.
According to reports, the number of dengue cases nationwide reached to 62,503 with 465 deaths, recorded from January to August this year.
DOH said that it has increased its efforts in educating public about dengue. DOH launched yesterday (Sept. 2) an information campaign in LRT Station in Monumento, unfurling a tarpaulin which contains information about dengue.
Health Secretary Enrique Ona said on a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday that “dengue is still on manageable level,” and that they had reactivated dengue express lane in all government hospitals (PIA, Sept. 2).
On Thursday (Sept. 2), the City Council of Tuguegarao City declared dengue outbreak with at least 323 confirmed cases and 1 death from Januaruy to August 31 this year.
On Misamis Oriental, at least 962 were hospitalized due to dengue with 16 deaths recorded on the same period this year.
On lighter side, some local government units have initiated activities against dengue. Some barangays in Kalinga have joined the provincial food-for-work program in eradicating breeding places of dengue-carrying mosquitoes. According to report, “A worker is entitled to 10 kilos of rice per day of work on the rehabilitation and repair of public facilities damaged by typhoons like schools, rural health centers, day care centers, hospitals, communal irrigation systems, farm-market-roads, de-clogging of canals and similar works” (PIA).
Zamboanga City, on the other hand, barangay leaders, department heads, city councilors, civic leaders, NGOs, schools (elementary and secondary), private and government employees participated in a city-wide cleanup activity held Thursday.
Also Baguio City has “enlisted the participation of all villages in the campaign to destroy all possible breeding places of mosquitoes and other harmful insects” (PNA, Sept. 2).
Meanwhile, in Iloilo City, people united in a half-day anti-dengue campaign. Students and teachers, police and army officers, firemen, municipal employees, religious groups, businessmen, and other volunteers participated in a clean-up drive which is aimed to raise awareness on preventive measures (Manila Bulletin, Sept. 2).
Source: Philippines News Agency, Philippine Information Agency, Manila Bulletin