City mobilizes barangay anti-Dengue brigade
Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered the mobilization of Barangay Anti-Dengue Brigade (BADB) to involve the community for a more aggressive campaign in combating the dengue cases from further shooting up.
City Health Services Office (CHSO) Department Head Rowena Galpo reported that there are 268 total cases of dengue for the period January 1 to June 8 this year compared to 124 cases reported for the same period last year.
With the onset of the rainy season, dengue cases are expected to continue increasing if mitigation actions are not implemented immediately.
The mayor issued Memorandum No. 105, series of 2022 addressed to the 128 barangays to mobilize their BADB and submit a Barangay Action Plan for Dengue, which shall include a surveillance report of sites identified as dengue breeding areas in their jurisdictions, pictures of such areas and a report of actions taken, if any. These are to be submitted to the Office of the City Mayor – Special Services Division on or before June 17, 2022 with copies furnished to the CHSO.
The mayor also wanted the barangays to submit a monthly report of dengue cases beginning January 2022 as well as conduct barangay-wide weekly clean up drive activity in all common and public areas within their jurisdictions.
The memorandum also directs the barangay to instruct and assist all households and business establishments in the conduct of daily search and destroy activities of dengue breeding sites.
Per report of the CHSO, barangays with dengue clusters in the past 4 weeks are: Loakan Proper – 13, Irisan – 7, Kias – 7, San Luis Village – 7, SLU-SVP Housing Village – 5, Bakakeng Central – 5, Camp 7 with 4 cases while City Camp has 3, Asin Road – 3, Country Club Village – 3, Legarda-Burnham-Kisad with 3 cases, Balsigan – 3, and Bakakeng North – 3.
Last year, the city had a total of 1,035 dengue cases with five deaths. There was no dengue-related death yet for the semester of the year.
Galpo said the CHSO is shifting its gears using the same data analysis tool and protocols in managing the coronavirus disease cases to address dengue cases particularly the regular publication of cases for public awareness which will be called the “Dengue Dashboard.”
“Our Risk Communications Team will be publishing dengue cases and location of clustered cases so that the public will be vigilant in keeping their homes and surroundings clean to avoid breeding sites for mosquitoes,” Galpo said.
On Monday, June 6, the CHSO through its Sanitation Division under Engr. Charles Bryan Carame started the conduct of anti-dengue spraying operations in targeted barangays, particularly those with a critical number of cases.
Every household is advised to apply the Department of Health’s 4-S Strategy which stands for the “Search and Destroy” mosquito-breeding sites within the household, “Self-protection measures” such as applying mosquito repellent and wearing of long sleeve shirts and pants, “Seek early consultation” and “Support fogging/spraying” at identified mosquito breeding spots. – Jessa Mardy P. Samidan
