BHWs told to go sitio level in anti-dengue drive

CEBU, Philippines — Barangay health workers in Cebu City have been ordered to go out of their centers to visit the sitio.

BHWs are asked to continue the info-dissemination on dengue and conduct misting and other interventions as dengue cases continue to rise amid the rainy season.

“Starting today (Monday), naa koy gibuhat nga memo, 3 to 5(pm) everyday, mogawas gyud sila sa ilang mga health centers, dili lang hutdan, pud ang mga health centers, magbilin lang usa duha unya ang uban moadto sa mga sitio para sa atong dengue campaign,” disclosed City Health Department acting chief, Dr. Jeffrey Ibones, to The Freeman.

BHWs are also asked to plot their schedules accordingly for proper monitoring of activities.

Aside from the information dissemination, BHWs are also expected to lead in the misting and search and destroy operations of dengue mosquitos and other preventive measures against dengue.

Barangay officials are also expected to coordinate with the CHD so everything will be in sync with the latter’s action.

“Sa atong mga barangay officials, mga barangay captain i-inform lang gyud ninyo sa atoang mga plans para mausa ra unya Dengue Task Force mao na nakig-coordinate ta sa Department of Interior and Local Government,” added Ibones.

As of its latest count, there are now 635 dengue cases in the city since January.

The figure continues to rise, including the number of deaths from 13 to 14, said Ibones.

CHD personnel are also currently going house-to-house to verify other cases that they may have missed since their data do not match with that of the Department of Health. DOH’s figures are now around 800 as against CHD at over 600. — Decemay P. Padilla, GMR (FREEMAN)