By BEVERLY C.
PAOYON
ALABEL, Sarangani
(August 2, 2013) – Barangay Kablacan in Maasim has reported three Dengue deaths
from 109 cases monitored by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) within July
18-27.
The escalation of
Dengue in Kablacan was noted between July 18 and 20 when one died out of the 89
cases reported. Two deaths occurred the following week out of 30 new
cases.
“Nobody should die of
dengue because it is preventable,” said Dr. Areen JB Biron, DOH–Center for
Health Development infectious disease cluster Dengue/Malaria regional
coordinator.
“Our team discovered
that there are still a lot of houses (in Kablacan) with breeding places (for
mosquitoes) like tires on the roof, bottles with water and the like,” provincial
sanitation inspector Arturo Naval said. “These should have been taken out.”
Naval said Rural Health Units need to spearhead clean-up
drives in villages not yet affected. “Barangay Captains should take the lead,”
he added.
On Saturday (August 3) the municipal government of
Maasim will conduct a synchronized clean-up drive in 36 sitios comprising
barangays of Malbang, Poblacion, Kabatiol, Kablacan and Daliao at 6 o’clock in
the morning.
The rising incidence
of Dengue in Sarangani prompted the provincial government to alert all barangay
households to be extra vigilant against the fatal disease.
According to a Department of Health (DOH) primer: “Ang
Dengue ay nakamamatay. At maaring magka-Dengue ang sinuman, bata man o matanda,
mahirap o mayaman. Kung kaya’t kailangan ang sama-samang pagkilos at kooperasyon
ng buong barangay upang maging matagumpay ang ating pagsisikap na labanan at
sugpuin ang Dengue.”
An outbreak hit barangay Alegria in Alabel last month
but intensive interventions by the PHO and Municipal Health Office to combat the
mosquito-borne disease led to zero Dengue case in two weeks.
There were two deaths in Alegria from June 30 to July
1.
Totally, the PHO has recorded 11 Dengue deaths beginning
January 27: three in Alabel; two in Glan; one in Kiamba; three in Maasim; one in
Malapatan; and one in Malungon.
Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon on Wednesday (July 31)
directed PHO personnel, municipal sanitary inspectors and barangay officials to
intensify the campaign against Dengue.
The Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit
recorded around 1,308 dengue cases from January to July 29 this year while in
the same period last year, there were only 166 cases.
The figures indicate a 687% increase.
Still in the same period, three deaths were recorded in
2012; 11 deaths this year.
Dr. Arvin Alejandro, provincial health officer,
attributed the significant rise in this year’s Dengue cases to the prompt
surveillance, validation and investigation of concerned individuals and offices
unlike in 2012 which he pointed out reports were usually a month delayed while
surveillance was noted to be weak in communities.
This time, the PHO has alerted barangay officials to
mount a massive campaign for the prevention and containment of
Dengue.
Alejandro said health workers engaged in co-awareness
activities in the communities as strategy for a sustainable intervention.
“The PHO is convening all municipal sanitary inspectors
to come up with a weekly plan for vector control activities,” said Alejandro.
”We will utilize all available chemicals to include the P1 million from the
PDRRMC (Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) until the end
of the year.”
The PDRRMC convened on July 11 passing a resolution to
allocate P1 million from the Calamity Fund to purchase chemicals for Dengue
prevention like Sumilarv for broadcast application and Vector for indoor
spraying.
However, for prevention, foremost is the community
clean-up drive using the “4S” against Dengue: Search and destroy; Seek immediate
consultation; Say “NO” to indiscriminate fogging; and Self-protection
measures.
Schools in Sarangani are doing the 4 o’clock habit.
“Every 4 o’clock, lahat ng schools sabay-sabay ‘yan silang naglilinis,”
Alejandro said.
“Dapat ang ating mga
purok leaders should be the champion in Dengue,” Alejandro said. “Kahit walang
kaso sa kanila, everyday or every other day or kahit once a week mag-call sila
ng bayanihan system na magtulong-tulong na linisin ang mga pwedeng breeding
places ng mosquitoes. Sa madaling salita, kung walang tubig na stock dyan,
walang kiti-kiti, walang lamok. Kung walang lamok, wala tayong Dengue.” For more
news and updates, please visit the <a href= http://www.sarangani.gov.ph/ > Province of Sarangani
</a> (Beverly C. Paoyon/ SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
