Garcia: DOH must give alternative to chemical spray against dengue

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said that the Department of Health (DOH) should provide an alternative to Deluge, a chemical being used in the fight against dengue which the health department is discouraging the public from using.

The governor said that the chemical spray has given them “considerable success” in fighting dengue.

The health department had reportedly warned that too much use of the chemical would have adverse effects on health.

Garcia said that the DOH should inform them of the alternative chemical to procure, especially since the spray they are currently using was recommended by Board Member Sergio Restauro who heads the Task Force Against Dengue.

Restauro is a doctor.

Provincial Board Member Sun Shimura, for his part, is urging the Capitol’s health department to conduct information drive on dengue in the province.

In a resolution that he filed for inclusion in the agenda of the next regular session, Shimura cites the need to arrest the rising number of dengue cases especially among children.

He believes that information campaign through the Capitol’s radio and television programs would be of great help.

Another member of the board, Agnes Magpale, also calls on all municipalities and component cities of the Province to formulate concrete programs against dengue.

As this developed, barangay health workers nationwide are pushing for the spirit of volunteerism among their members in the campaign against dengue.

Some 1,000 barangay health workers from the National Capital Region, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and from Regions 1, 6, 7, 8, and 10 are gathered in Cebu for a two-day forum in line with their anniversary celebration.

National Confederation of Barangay Health Workers of the Philippines, Inc. president Ermelinda Abadiano said that they want to unite the barangay health workers nationwide.

The barangay health workers are considered at the frontline of government’s health services because they serve communities that are far from hospitals.   DOH 7 Director Susana Madarieta said she is inspired by the barangay health workers’ spirit of volunteerism.

Madarieta pointed out that dengue is a serious nationwide problem that BHW will face.

“Daghan kaayo mong mabuhat as BHW to control dengue,” Madarieta told the health workers.

Eastern Visayas has the highest number of deaths, at 70, although Region 6 has the highest number of dengue cases, with 10,000.

Central Visayas has 5,000 cases, which is 24 percent higher than the previous year’s 4,000 cases.

Madarieta is again stressing the importance of cleaning one’s surroundings of stagnant water especially in flower vases, dish drains, tires, and water dispensers.

“Rich or poor, anybody can be affected with dengue,” said Madarieta. — Donna B. Vitualia and Edmund C. Monisit, USJ-R /Ria Mae Booc /JPM (THE FREEMAN)