QC gov't strengthens bid to combat spread of dengue
Published Sep 18, 2019 04:08 pm
By Chito Chavez
The Quezon City Council has passed several resolutions in a bid to combat the spread of the dreaded dengue disease.
Quezon City (MANILA BULLETIN)
Authored by Councilor Peachy De Leon, City Resolution 7901-2019 urges the City Health Department (CHD) to conduct a simultaneous clean-up drive and anti-dengue fumigation in five adjacent barangays on a quarterly basis.
City Resolution 7902-2019 authored by Councilor Ramon Medalla meanwhile asked the barangays to use their calamity fund to bankroll information campaigns.
“The city should not wait for the declaration of the state of calamity due to the dengue outbreak, we should act as one and use every resources at hand like the calamity quick response funds to be used in destroying the habitat of mosquitoes,” the resolution read.
Meanwhile, City Resolution 7903-2019, introduced by Councilors Eden Delilah Medina, Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonio and Irene Belmonte, requires schools to allow students to wear long sleeved shirts and jogging pants or long pants while attending school.
The resolution noted that having the students wear these clothing will provide protection from dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
To recall, the Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) has put up fever surveillance lanes in the city’s health centers to closely monitor cases of dengue, leptospirosis, viral illnesses, and other febrile conditions.
City Health Officer Dra. Esperanza Arias said the move is necessary to monitor possible dengue and leptospirosis cases.
“This development can be attributed to the heightened advocacy campaign of the city. The regular and close monitoring of all notifiable disease being done by the City Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit (CESU) in partnership with the city's sentinel hospitals, the Department of Health and all local health facilities, have enabled the city to know the status of these diseases and implement measures to address these accordingly,” Arias said.
The QCHD has recorded 160 cases of leptospirosis with 21 deaths from January 1 to August 17 of this year.
This is, however, a 62 percent drop from the 432 cases with 60 deaths recorded during the same period last year.
Mayor Joy Belmonte also reminded the public to be vigilant in ensuring the cleanliness of their surroundings especially during the rainy season.
“Our health department is ready to address illnesses including leptospirosis, that may peak during the rainy season. Aside from our strengthened awareness campaign, our health centers have protocols in place to treat patients who have contacted leptospira,” Belmonte said, following reports that scattered rains may be expected over Metro Manila in the coming days.
While rats are the known carrier of leptospira, the QCHD noted other animals such as cows, pigs, and dogs can also harbor the microbe and spread the disease.
Quezon City (MANILA BULLETIN)
Authored by Councilor Peachy De Leon, City Resolution 7901-2019 urges the City Health Department (CHD) to conduct a simultaneous clean-up drive and anti-dengue fumigation in five adjacent barangays on a quarterly basis.
City Resolution 7902-2019 authored by Councilor Ramon Medalla meanwhile asked the barangays to use their calamity fund to bankroll information campaigns.
“The city should not wait for the declaration of the state of calamity due to the dengue outbreak, we should act as one and use every resources at hand like the calamity quick response funds to be used in destroying the habitat of mosquitoes,” the resolution read.
Meanwhile, City Resolution 7903-2019, introduced by Councilors Eden Delilah Medina, Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonio and Irene Belmonte, requires schools to allow students to wear long sleeved shirts and jogging pants or long pants while attending school.
The resolution noted that having the students wear these clothing will provide protection from dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
To recall, the Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) has put up fever surveillance lanes in the city’s health centers to closely monitor cases of dengue, leptospirosis, viral illnesses, and other febrile conditions.
City Health Officer Dra. Esperanza Arias said the move is necessary to monitor possible dengue and leptospirosis cases.
“This development can be attributed to the heightened advocacy campaign of the city. The regular and close monitoring of all notifiable disease being done by the City Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit (CESU) in partnership with the city's sentinel hospitals, the Department of Health and all local health facilities, have enabled the city to know the status of these diseases and implement measures to address these accordingly,” Arias said.
The QCHD has recorded 160 cases of leptospirosis with 21 deaths from January 1 to August 17 of this year.
This is, however, a 62 percent drop from the 432 cases with 60 deaths recorded during the same period last year.
Mayor Joy Belmonte also reminded the public to be vigilant in ensuring the cleanliness of their surroundings especially during the rainy season.
“Our health department is ready to address illnesses including leptospirosis, that may peak during the rainy season. Aside from our strengthened awareness campaign, our health centers have protocols in place to treat patients who have contacted leptospira,” Belmonte said, following reports that scattered rains may be expected over Metro Manila in the coming days.
While rats are the known carrier of leptospira, the QCHD noted other animals such as cows, pigs, and dogs can also harbor the microbe and spread the disease.