Saturday, September 13, 2008 City's fight vs. dengue shows dramatic results
HOPES that dengue cases in Cebu City this coming months will not be as serious as last year’s continue with just 13 incidents recorded so far this month.
Dengue fever incidents last year dramatically rose by July, the start of the rainy reason.
There were just 104 cases reported July this year, however, compared to 220 for the same month last year.
And there were just 102 cases reported last August compared to 352 cases for the same month in 2008.
This, as barangays continue to show up during Cebu City Council sessions to report their anti-dengue efforts.
Measures
Last Wednesday, Barangays Guadalupe and Labangon, barangays with high incidence, briefed the councils on what measures they have adopted to combat dengue.
From January to Sept. 6 this year, 945 dengue cases, with 38 deaths, were reported. Of the total number of cases, Guadalupe ranks first with 64, with three deaths; followed by Labangon with 49 cases, also with three deaths.
Last Wednesday, Barangay Councilor Harry Cañete reported that Guadalupe continues to offer free complete blood count at its Health Center, conducted massive spraying in different sitios, and reactivated its Barangay Dengue Brigade.
He said they also conducted house-to-house information drive especially in sitios with high dengue incidences.
Ordinance
Labangon Barangay Captain Felix Abella also reported similar measures, and specifically cited the enactment of an ordinance imposing a P500 fine to those who fail to clean their vacant lots and do not properly dispose off unused and discarded tires.
Last year, Labangon reported 125 dengue cases, with six deaths.
Abella said they already seized over 200 used tires, adding that barangay officials confiscated them because residents showed they could not be trusted to dispose the tires themselves.
Aside from distributing leaflets, the barangay also did motorcades informing the public of the dangers of dengue and how to prevent infection.
City Councilor Christopher Alix, council committee on health chairman, said this month shows promise with the dramatic reduction of cases. He hopes the trend will continue.
So far, there are just 13 cases this month compared to 319 cases in September last year. (RHM)
