DOH Implements ‘Zika National Action Plan’

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday it is set to further strengthen its efforts in control and prevention of Zika virus infection and other mosquito-borne diseases under its “Zika National Action Plan” this month.

According to Dr. Mario Baquilod, DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau Director IV, under the action plan, they will be focusing on strategies such as surveillance and clinical management, vector control, management of potential impact on pregnant women, and health promotion.

Dr. Baquilod said they have come out with the action plan upon the order of DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin in the early part of January, this year.

He added that they finalized the contents of the action plan after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus infection in February as a disease of international concern or having the potential to spread and therefore will require a response with international collaboration.

“Actually, some of these strategies were earlier mentioned by Secretary Garin,” Dr. Baquilod said, adding that some of them were done already before as the DOH had already had its own set of experience on some emerging and reemerging infectious diseases.

He said it is not the first time that the DOH will be dealing with a potential health problem of international concern.

“Just to add, the Philippines has a long history of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases. We must understand that even as early as 2003, meron na tayong mga SARS, H5N1, H1N1, MERSCoV and then recently Ebola virus disease experiences in the management and control. What I’m trying to say, ang DOH ay may existing systems to respond to these kinds of diseases. Siguro mga strengthening efforts na lang ang kailangan for this year,” he added.

He said that what is needed in the current action plan is to further boost and effectively implement it.

According to Baquilod, while the vector control measures are ongoing and being strengthened, they have combined it with activities involving the active participation of regions and municipalities to conduct and implement vector control measures.

He said that at the same time, the capacity of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau was boosted further by formulation of policies and guidelines and clear definition of suspected cases.

He added that aside from capacitating further the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), they are also enhancing the sub-national levels on laboratory diagnosis to effectively detect, track and monitor Zika infection as well as virus isolation when needed.

He also said that policies and guidelines for case referral and clinical management dissemination will be further strengthened.

He said that they have also expanded their surveillance in the points of entry such as seaports and airports in collaboration with quarantine personnel.

Dr. Baquilod emphasized that past efforts on “source reduction” through cleanliness activities will be done in some areas, especially those that will require chemicals in controlling the source.

“We will probably be using larvacides, sprays, and these should be a continuous activity. So the community is critical in this stage to sustain yung mga vector control activities,” he said.

He added that such activities should involve participation on all levels of care as well as the community.

In terms of management of pregnant women, he said that they will provide guidelines in hospitals to mitigate the potential impact of Zika disease on women of child-bearing age.

“Basically, ang gagawin dito is yung updating of policies and guidelines and disseminating through our partners in hospitals,” he said.

He further said that they will continue their collaboration with experts from the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO.

For the health promotion, he said that they will effectively communicate the risks associated with Zika virus disease.

He noted that through the health promotion, they will be extending efforts in changing the behavior and level of awareness of community members to develop protective behavior, thereby reducing anxiety and discouraging fear.

He also said that in the coming weeks and months, they will provide more orientations and planning activities with the DOH regional directors so that they can further come out with activities on planning.

The Health official further said that Zika forums will be done to further widen the knowledge on Zika virus infection and how the different sectors in the country can strongly fight them together.

Last Monday, Secretary said that all suspected cases for Zika virus diseases should be reported within 24 hours to the DOH as the agency placed the disease under the “Category 1 classification” on the Philippine integrated disease surveillance and response system.

Suspected cases are to be reported to the DOH Epidemiology Bureau through its regional epidemiology surveillance units nationwide, she said in a press conference. (PNA) SCS/LSJ/EDS