All Sarangani villages placed on Dengue alert

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)