The Manila Times

Dengue cases in Davao City drop

DAVAO CITY — Dengue cases here have declined, An official of the City Health Office (CHO) here confirmed on Thursday.

Melodina Babante, coordinato­r of the Tropical Diseases Prevention and Control Unit of CHO, said that from January to June this year, the city has recorded 2,117 dengue cases, which is lower compared to the 2,876 cases recorded in the same period last year.

“Although there is a minimal decrease in cases, we should not let our guard down because the decrease is connected to the dry season we experience­d in the previous months,” she said.

Babante, however, said they are expecting an increase in the number of dengue cases due to the rainy season.

“We expect an increase in the number of dengue cases in Davao City, especially if the community does not support the interventi­ons and prevention of the problem,” she said.

Babante emphasized the need for the creation of a dengue task force in the barangay as one way of ensuring that the community cooperates in the city government’s interventi­on and prevention efforts.

To strengthen the fight against dengue in Davao, the city government has issued a memorandum, mandating all 182 barangay to create a Barangay Mosquito-Borne Diseases Task Force (BMDTF).

However, she said that, so far, only 32 villages have a BMDTF.

She said the creation of the BMDTF will help “prevent incidences of dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases that are rampant during the rainy season.”

Babante also said the memorandum is in line with City Ordinance 0401-20, s. 2020, or the Davao City Mosquito-Borne Diseases Prevention and Control Program, and its Implementi­ng Rules and Regulation­s stipulated under Executive Order 25, s. 2023.

She added that in line with the memorandum released on July 1, the CHO is planning to conduct another forum with the barangay captains to discuss the process of structurin­g a BMDTF. They also plan to discuss the rationale behind the creation of the BMDTF to emphasize its importance, especially in properly addressing dengue cases.

The memorandum also mandates the barangay to coordinate with the Tropical Diseases Unit of the CHO for the conduct of intensifie­d Informatio­n and Education Campaign in their areas.

Babante continuous­ly urged Davaoeños to practice the 4S strategies or search and destroy mosquito breeding areas, seeking self-protection measures, seeking early medical consultati­on, and supporting fogging/spraying in hotspot areas.

Davaoeños are also encouraged to cooperate with the CHO’s interventi­on and prevention efforts against dengue.