March 29, 2024

Despite dark clouds threatening to drop as heavy rain, city employees joined barangay officials and volunteers in the fourth Thursday of Denguerra (War against Dengue) on July 14 in barangays infested with dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

An intensive search and destroy activity, they emptied and overturned containers, cans, bottles, and receptacles which may turn into breeding places, where mosquito eggs would hatch to larva to pupa and later adults, whose bite may be laden with the deadly dengue virus.      

 In a management committee meeting, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the result of the intensive search and destroy for dengue-causing mosquito eggs/larvae will be known by the end of the month.

Cases have been increasing and the number of barangays with clustered cases is at 49 last week.

In an earlier report, City Health Services Office head Rowena Galpo reported there are more cases due to a sudden peak in mid-June, earlier than the predicted rise in July. The increase is a regular cyclic epidemic, which happens every three years.

Galpo reported the dengue caravan and information and education campaign continues. Indoor and outdoor spraying need to be done and insecticide-treated curtains will be given to eight elementary and five high schools in the 20 barangays with the most number of dengue cases.

She added a review of Ordinance 66, 2016 or the Anti-Dengue Ordinance clarifies it is the concerted effort of the city government, barangays, councils, schools, non-government organizations to conduct prevention and control to mitigate dengue and residents are required to strengthen the fight against dengue.

Households and all building owners should clean, cover, dispose, check and drain water-filled containers and plants with the assistance of schools, church, government and private offices. Hospitals should have dengue fast lanes with the CHSO providing dengue desk assistance, free CBC, and antigen test.

The CHSO is also in-charge of massive IEC campaign, surveillance, and medical consultation for suspect cases and referral to the hospital.  

The city council, Association of Barangay Councils, City Building and Architecture Office, City Engineers Office, City Environment and Parks Management Office, General Services Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Legal Office, Public Information Office, Baguio City Police Office; Department of Health, Philippine Information Agency, Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways, and other representatives shall work together to control the dengue virus. 

The ordinance also provides a person who creates conditions favorable for breeding places or any uncooperative person or group of persons can be summoned to appear before the punong barangay to explain why no legal action should be taken against him or them.

Violation of the anti-dengue ordinance would be meted community service for one or several days or fine of P1,000 or P3,000 or imprisonment for a certain number of days, at the discretion of the court. 

Everyone is enjoined to take precautions against the dengue-carrying mosquito. One who feels symptoms such as headache, vomiting, bleeding, rashes, fever, joint pains, fatigue, and pain behind the eyes should visit the health center or any of the hospitals for immediate attention.

A dengue fast lane is located at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for such concerns. – Julie G. Fianza