THE Provincial Health Office’s (PHO) Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) released its 31st Morbidity Week Dengue report, with cases 50.0% lower than last year. PHO reported 886 cases from January 1- to August 5, lower than last year’s 1844 cases.
Although cases this year are significantly lower compared to the same period, PHO’s Provincial Dengue Program Coordinator, Leonidas Saniel, still advises LGUs to adopt more strategies against the virus to avoid any mortality or an uptick of cases before 2023 ends, with two deaths reported this year from Clarin and Sagbayan.
According to PESU’s findings, Municipal Dengue Ordinances are yet to be implemented for some LGUs, with Purok Dengue Task Forces not functional. Lack of knowledge on the 4’S (Search and destroy, self-protection from dengue, support indiscriminate fogging, and seek early consultation) strategy was also part of their report findings, with lacking sufficient Information Education Campaigns (IEC) for barangays on the dangers of contracting dengue.
This is part of the Provincial Government of Bohol’s Strategic Change and Development Agenda, under Governor Aris Aumentado’s administration, on health and social services and the Department of Health’s (DOH) nationwide campaign against dengue fever.
PHO recommended intensive IEC amongst barangays, weekly surveillance activities by Purok dengue task forces, lobbying support from LGUs encouraging community vigilance, and mobilizing search and destroy programs as effective measures.
Since February, PESU has conducted entomological surveillance of areas with high cases to identify areas at risk of outbreaks and to assess their performances in keeping their locality dengue-free. (PiMO/GMC)
