DOH launches new drive to combat dengue disease

We have to act now in the fight against dengue.

Government officials are again warning the people to immediately take action in the fight against the deadly disease, which is expected to plague the entire country if unabated.

Department of Health Undersecretary Jade del Mundo and Mayor Tomas Osmeña both made the call during the launching of the “ToDOH Batok Dengue” campaign in barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City yesterday.

Osmeña said that in the city, 11 people have already died this month and it is expected that another 10 will die in March and another 15 in April.

“Believe me, this is going to happen. The only question is who and where and what can we do about it. This is one predictable situation. Dengue is very predictable,” he stressed.

He said that based on the trending, dengue cases and deaths in 2006 and 2007 are increasing.

“Usually, the peak period of mortality is during June but now its only February and 11 are dead already. There is more or less 300 percent increase in frequency of dengue compared to the same period last year,” he said.

“Who is going to die this month? You’ll never know but believe me, there will be many who will die this month and next month.”

Osmeña said that the people should also realize that the problem the number of people who died of dengue is not just statistics but these are people.   For his part, Del Mundo called for action from the local government officials particularly the barangay, and education officials to help in the campaign against the dengue virus.

“It needs urgent action now. Without putting in place sound measures for dengue prevention and control, the number of cases we are experiencing at present, which are already in the tenths of thousands, will become a norm in the coming years,” he said.

With this, he said the DOH has intensified the nationwide campaign against the disease by launching the “ToDOH Batok Dengue” starting in Cebu City.

From here, the program will also be launched in other regions of the country where dengue cases are prevalent.

“The fight against dengue not battle of DOH alone. We have allies in this war led by DepEd, DILG and Liga ng Barangay. This must be well-coordinated national effort,” he said.

Both Osmeña and del Mundo also favor the implementation of a law that would penalize those who do not cooperate in the clean up drive to control dengue like the resolution that was recently approved by barangay Labangon.

The mayor also yesterday expressed support for the plan of Councilor Gerardo Carillo to make a city ordinance that would impose fines to those who do not cooperate in the campaign. — Wenna A. Berondo/NLQ