Capitol urged: Declare dengue outbreak early

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Health Office (PHO) has recommended the declaration of dengue outbreak in Cebu following the reported increase in the number of cases.

PHO chief Dr. Rene Catan said the declaration is necessary to employ early and preventive measures to stop the dreaded virus from claiming more lives. He said that from January to February, they have already recorded nine deaths.

 “Dengue is on the rise again… I already presented an idea to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) to declare early an outbreak for heightened awareness rather than make a declaration when there are several dead already,” he told reporters.

Health authorities underscored that there has always been an observable trend of increase in dengue cases every three years. 

The significant increase was last observed in 2016. Catan said he discussed with Governor Hilario Davide III to intensify the Capitol’s anti-dengue measures.

Catan said they need to strengthen the educational program against dengue because old strategies such as the 4 o’clock cleanup habit and the Dengvaxia vaccine did not work out. The Capitol is planning to tap the help of the Department of Education Cebu province schools division.

According to Catan, DepEd provincial office can integrate dengue education in its existing curriculum.

Aside from educating children about dengue, the schools can also teach pupils how to make mosquito ovitraps and make them as science projects. Through this, all schools will have their own device that can help control the reproduction of mosquitoes.

 Catan is also planning to present the idea to all the municipalities and component cities, including Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.

He said there is now a new design wherein the ovitrap device would be more effective in killing mosquitoes.

 “We have to shift to a different strategy in a way that will be more efficient in fighting against the dengue carrier,” he said. —  FPL (FREEMAN)