Health Department Strengthens Anti-Dengue Program

The Cebu City Health Department’s (CHD) mid-year accomplishment report said on Tuesday that cases of dengue-related deaths in the city have lessen compared to the previous years.

City Health Department head Dr. Stella Ygona said they are taking preventive measures such as strengthening the information drive against dengue since its outbreak in the entire Cebu province in the middle of this year, with Cebu City reportedly having the most number of said cases in the country.

CHD’s Dengue case tally shows that 4,057 cases were recorded last year with 13 deaths; 1,850 cases and 13 deaths in 2011; 3, 172 cases with 22 deaths in 2010; 2, 256 cases with 41 deaths in 2009.

Most of the patients who have visited the health centers were administered with free CBC at CHD and in mother health center laboratories, while those with relative decreasing platelets were referred to Cebu City Medical Center for admission.

Thorough ‘Information Education’ campaigns were conducted in all 80 barangays in the city by City Health Department together with barangay officials. Posters and educational materials on dengue prevention were also distributed to aid its dengue control program.

With the city dengue task force, all health centers have conducted regular ‘search and destroy’ in their respective barangays. The ‘Search and Destroy’ starts from 50 meter radius of each house, especially those from barangay which has confirmed dengue cases.

The City Health Department had also conducted concurrent ultra-low volume misting, inspected schools, implemented curtain impregnation and larvicidal operations for prevention and control. (Gessa Gunhuran, PIO Staff)