Dengue deaths rise
Mayor Sara alarmed over high dengue death toll
DAVAO CITY Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday expressed alarm over high mortality rate among dengue patients in the city, which already reached 19 deaths from over 4,000 cases since January, this year.
She said she is deeply concerned and appalled at the high number of dengue fever deaths amid an intensified campaign against the mosquito-borne disease in the city.
The City Health Office (CHO) reported a total of 4,002 patients admitted due to dengue fever since January, this year, of whom 19 have died, including 11 children, the oldest was only aged 5.
In the wake of this development, Duterte-Carpio issued a stern warning on health personnel of the city to address the problem or heads will roll within the City Health Office.
"I want to see a decrease from July to December, otherwise, there is a need to find new people for this job," warned the mayor in a statement issued yesterday.
Last year, eight patients in the city died due to the virus carried by the
Aedes aegypti mosquito.
"That the number of deaths could reach this high is definitely disconcerting and I am appalled because the government is supposed to be doing everything to prevent the breeding of the mosquitoes carrying the virus," the city mayor said.
Duterte-Carpio said dengue is preventable "if only efforts to prevent the spread were done and were done efficiently."
"I have ordered a review of how the local government is fighting dengue and other preventable diseases. The agencies involved -- the City Health Office, particularly -- should always be on their feet, always to err on the side of prevention and not on reaction," she saud.
She said she has ordered the CHO to closely coordinate with barangay officials in the implementation of programs aimed at eliminating dengue.
"There is an urgent need to eliminate the mosquitoes carrying the virus and their breeding places if we want to end the spate of deaths," the mayor said.
CHO, with a budget of P1 million for anti-dengue program, has been regularly treating curtain and bed nets with chemicals that effectively ward off mosquitoes.
“The city provides the needed materials for the soaking of bed nets and curtains," said CHO chief Dr. Josephine Villafuerte.
The so-called 4 o'clock habit is also being widely encouraged.
Records showed a massive increase in dengue cases across the country, with over 57,000 cases since January.
"This only means that the entire country needs to be alert and must do our part in cleaning our environment and destroying the breeding areas of the mosquitoes,” Villafuerte said.