DOH takes anti-dengue caravan to Lapu-Lapu

Representatives from the Department of Health (DOH) met yesterday with residents of Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City as part of the agency's information caravan on dengue prevention.

Around 270 residents from Barangay Pajo participated in a dialogue paneled by DOH Undersecretary Dr. Herminigildo Valle, DOH-7 Assistant Regional Director Dr. Sophia Mancao, and Lapu-Lapu City Health Officer Dr. Rodolfo Berame.

This information caravan, initiated by DOH's Office for Field Implementation and Management, aims to connect with residents at the barangay level and provide information about the status of the Dengvaxia vaccine and also to remind the public on ways to prevent dengue.

The information caravan prioritizes localities where dengue cases have been prevalent.

Barangay Pajo is the DOH's first stop in Cebu province before heading to Talisay City.

During the forum, Valle urged the residents of the barangay to trust their local health officers in terms of health problems and to report or consult with them if they feel something unusual physically.

“Ayaw pag dili-dili, ayaw pag dugay-dugay. Tawag (mo) sa hotline kay sila motabang ninyo,” he said, adding that the DOH has personnel specifically tasked to deal with concerns pertaining to dengue.

Mancao explained to residents that they were only able to administer the first dose of the Dengvaxia vaccine in Central Visayas between June to August 2017 before the vaccines were recalled back to DOH central office following reports of infant deaths linked to Dengvaxia.

It was reported that around 27 children died allegedly because of the vaccination but Valle said there is no concrete proof yet, although there are ongoing investigations into the matter.

“Ongoing pa. Unfortunately, naa'y mga independent investigation na wala kaayo na-collaborate sa amoa ba but anyway, be that as it may, sana ma-protektahan ang ating evidence, atong mga facts para in the end, makuhanan nato unsa katinuod ani, unsay truth ani, ang cause ani nga pagkamatay sa mga bata o kung naa ba'y problema sa atong dengvaxia nga vaccine,” he told reporters in an interview.

For her part, Mancao stressed that there has not been any deaths tied to Dengvaxia in Central Visayas.

“Wala'y namatay pa or na-prove nga ang dengvaxia mao'y nakapatay sa bata kay naa'y daghan infection naa sa ato paligid,” Mancao said.

Mancao said that a consequence of the Dengvaxia controversy is that there are some parents who are having doubts on the safety of other vaccines for their children such as for polio, measles, and diphtheria.

Valle assures that these other vaccines are safe. “Unfortunately naa nag duha- duha nga mga parents pero maluoy ta sa atong mga bata, kanang ubang mga vaccinations, wala gyud nay labot aning dengue. They're very effective long time, long-standing, historically very safe ang mga vaccines nato,” he said.

Berame told participants that they should not place any blame on the DOH because the agency makes sure to regularly remind the public about the risks of dengue and the need to maintain clean surroundings through their information dissemination campaigns.

“Don't blame the DOH kay kamo raman ana dapat manglimpyo sa inyong palibot,” he said.