Guv alarmed over rise of dengue patients

CITY OF FERNANDO -- Governor Lilia Pineda expressed alarm over the increasing number of dengue patients confined in various hospitals in the province.

Pineda noted that Jose B. Lingad General Memorial Hospital (JBL) is now crowded with dengue patients.

“Me alarma ku kasi karakal dana reng madi- dengue king JBL atsu nala king pasilyu ding aliwang pasyente,” she said.

The governor said the province of Pampanga has recorded not less than 1,945 confirmed dengue patients as of July 3 this year.

For the month of July alone, some 378 individuals were already by the dengue virus. This is far from the 878 recorded dengue cases for the same period last year.

“Mas mababa yung dengue cases natin for the month of July kumpara last year pero mataas naman fatalities rate natin,” said Leonita Gorgolon, director of the Department of Health-Center for Health and Development (DOH-CHD) who is also present during the meeting.

As this developed, Pineda recently called for an emergency meeting with doctors and municipal health officers in various municipalities to determine efforts undertaken in addressing the problem on dengue.

Digital thermometers

Provincial Health Office (PHO) Chief Marcelo Jaochico said they are studying the possibility of distributing digital thermometers in all public schools in the province to further bolster the campaign against dengue.

Jaochico rationalized the initiative in that students spend eight hours in school. This is the time where early signs of dengue could be possibly traced by teachers.

“Tuturuan natin ang mga teachers na kumuha ng body temperature using digital thermometers. Bibigyan natin sila ng form para ra referral sa pinalamalapit na health center kung sakaling hindi normal ang temperature,” he said.

Express lane

Jaochico said express lanes for dengue patients are still active in various public hospitals in the province. The express lane is designed to facilitate the quick treatment for dengue patients.

Governor Pineda reminded the district hospital chiefs about the Provincial Government’s commitment to shoulder all medical expenses of the dengue patients.

This came as several indigent patients are still coming into the governor’s office asking for financial assistance involving their relatives afflicted with dengue mosquito virus.