Health exec urges residents’ help to control dengue

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Health Department yesterday underscored the need for community involvement in the fight against dengue.

“Our department cannot make it on our own. We need to inform the people but hopefully there will be behavioral change so that we will see the impact in combating dengue,” said CHD Chief Dr. Daisy Villa.

Villa said social mobilization at the barangay level is one of the best ways to go.

“Education is very important but change in behavior is also needed. We need an immediate action… We need to act individually to combat dengue but we never change in our behavior. We rather seek consultation when it’s too late already,” she said.

CHD data from 2010 until September 2015 showed 65 deaths from dengue – 20 in 2010, 13 in 2011, 12 in 2012, five in 2013, five in 2014, and 10 in 2015, so far.

The recent death was recorded in Barangay Apas, which claimed the life of a five-year-old girl.

“Nagsakit ang tiyan sa bata pero gihimusmuhan lang kay gipanuhot kuno. Naadmit September 29 sa udto pero namatay niadtong September 30,” said Villa.

The recent death added to the number of dengue cases in Cebu City, reaching to 868 recorded from January to September 30, 2015. This period showed at least 11 casualties due to dengue, six of which were recorded in September alone.

The barangays that recorded deaths from dengue for the past nine months include Suba with three deaths, Bulacao with two deaths,  and San Nicolas Proper, Pasil, Busay, Barrio Luz, Apas, and Guadalupe with one death each.

Case fatality rate is determined by calculating the proportion of deaths within a designated population of dengue cases.

Meanwhile, the barangays that did not have cases of dengue include Adlaon, Agsungot, Binaliw, Mabini, Tabgao, Malubog, Pahina San Nicolas, Kalubihan, and San Roque.

To control mosquito population through community-based intervention, CHD teams have penetrated residential areas to conduct low volume misting, reactivation of dengue brigade, and massive environmental sanitation.

State workers and volunteers will also take its part in a massive larvicidal campaign in all urban barangays this weekend with p to 5,000 participants expected to attend. — May B. Miasco/JMO (FREEMAN)