Bacolod City – Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson recently said that he will ask City and Municipal Health officers of various local government units in Negros Occidental, regarding their preparations in the fight against dengue.
This was after Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang revealed that majority of the 31 local government units in Negros Occidental have yet to activate their respective dengue task forces, despite the surge of cases.
Lacson said he is hoping to find out the preparations of CHOs and MHOs during a zoom meeting scheduled today, July 22.
This cannot only be done only by the province, although I must admit, we could have done better, the governor said, apparently referring to the anti-dengue campaign.
Tumimbang reiterated his call for local government units in Negros Occidental to create, or re-activate their respective dengue task forces, amid rising cases in the province.
Lacson reported that last year there was a budget of ₱ 3.9 million for the purchase of larvicide, a type of insecticide used to kill mosquito larvae, and an additional ₱ 2.7 million for this year.
That is why we did not declare a state of calamity in order to access more funds, because “our regular budget to address dengue is provided for,” he said.
Tumimbang stressed the importance of a dengue task force, chaired by the local chief executive, in monitoring and addressing dengue cases in their respective areas, which has to be pushed by the health sector.
Negros Occidental ranks number one in Western Visayas, having the greatest number of dengue cases.
From January to July 2 this year, the Department of Health-Western Visayas recorded an increase of 777 percent in dengue cases from January to July 2 this year, compared to the same period in 2021.
Tumimbang said that they will start the massive drive against dengue in 10 local government units of Negros Occidental having the greatest number of cases, including the cities of Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Bago, San Carlos and Cadiz, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Pontevedra and Cauayan.
He said the people should be informed during the “rekorida” campaign that their town or city has the greatest number of dengue cases.
Even LGUs with low number of cases should activate their dengue task force to strengthen their 4S strategy (self-protection, seek early consultation, support spraying, with fogging operations to be employed on areas), Tumimbang further said. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star, photo courtesy of Sunstar)