Prayer vs. dengue out soon

CEBU, Philippines – While a formula for the prayer against dengue has not been released by the Archdiocese of Cebu, Episcopal vicar Msgr. Esteban Binghay encouraged all parishes and chaplaincies to include in their intentions during every Mass, in the prayers for the faithful, the prayer to spare Cebu from an outbreak, the recovery of those who have been inflicted with the disease and the safety of every household.

To recall, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, alarmed by the current situation, recently ordered the issuance of a special prayer, or an "Oratio Imperata", to be recited at every Mass in all parishes, chaplaincies and formation houses in the Archdiocese of Cebu.

Since prevention is better than cure, Vidal also told the public to learn the basics about how the disease can be prevented and to coordinate with the government and other agencies in its efforts to curb the problem.

Binghay said that due to the long weekend, the prayer might be released any day next week. It is still due for compliance in some technical requirements.

The Archdiocesan Commission on Worship, who will prepare the draft of the special prayer to be approved by Vidal, is expected to release the Oratio Imperata for Dengue any time next week.

Then it will be disseminated to all parishes and chaplaincies in no time.

"But we will pray even without the formula," Binghay assured.

The number of cases of dengue continues to rise in Cebu but health officials assured that there is no outbreak.

In Cebu City alone, the City Health Department Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit reported 1,424 cases with 12 deaths since January up to September 8 this year compared to 1,009 cases during the same period last year.

The city-run Cebu City Medical Center had to accommodate 48 dengue patients including the 16 new admissions yesterday which forced them to implement anew the practice of twin sharing due to lack of available beds.

They implemented it just recently but upon the instruction of Mayor Michael Rama, CCMC extended its dengue lane to the Gyne Ward at the third floor which has been transferred to the ground floor.

But since patients continue to arrive, there are times they had to maximize the available facilities.

CCMC Department of Pediatrics head Dr. Lee James Maratas, however, said that if worse comes to worst, they might extend even up to the auditorium.

While other hospitals start refusing dengue patients, Maratas said that CCMC will never refuse to admit patients especially if they are dengue patients. The average number of admissions in a day is eight to 10 patients. They stay for two to three days except for those who have higher grade dengue or those with complications.

CCMC only has 28 beds available for dengue patients but the hospital always finds a way to accommodate all of them. Maratas said that six to 10 patients are also dis-charged every day so there is no problem with the traffic.

More dengue patients now come to the hospital since the city government implemented a free treatment program for dengue patients where they appropriated at least P5 million per year to purchase medicines and to defray the expenses on the laboratory tests.

But the sudden surge of dengue patients prompted the city to release an additional P10 million charged against the city's calamity fund.

Department of Health regional office-7 director Susanna Madarieta said that dengue is expected to reach its peak this month and afterwards the number of cases will start to go down. - /BRP (FREEMAN)