CHO hopeful dengue drive to stop rise

DAVAO City Health Office (CHO) hopes the intensified campaign against dengue fever here will reduce the number of cases.

CHO chief Dra. Josephine Villafuerte on Tuesday afternoon, during the relaunch of the “4 o’clock habit”, expressed optimism of seeing a significant decrease in the number of cases and fatalities caused by the mosquito-borne disease.

The campaign kicked off in Barangay Sto. Rosario gym in Buhangin, where the highest number of dengue cases has been reported in the past months.

The 4 o’clock habit is the daily cleaning of surroundings at around 4 pm -- with the aim of destroying the breeding places of dengue-carrying mosquitoes such as gutters, tin cans, and uncovered empty containers.

City Health Office (CHO) reported a total of 4,002 patients admitted due to dengue fever since January until late July this year. Of whom, 19 have died, including 11 children, the oldest was aged 5.

On July 28, Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio expressed alarm over high mortality rate among dengue patients in the city. She even threatened to stop giving away Christmas bonuses to some city health workers should they cannot, at least, minimize the rising deaths due to dengue in the city.

Elizabeth Banzon, chief of CHO’s Tropical Division, said that in combating the spread of denguecarrying mosquitoes, the community needs the concerted efforts of barangay officials, BHWs, and community residents.

Banzon cited the important role of the Anti-Dengue Task Force in keeping the communities informed about the disease. Buhangin Proper Barangay Captain James Salvador lauded the CHO and the DOH 11 for its continuing efforts to fight dengue, not only in his barangay but in all 182 barangays of the city.