THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) calls on patients with suspected dengue virus to utilize the government’s free diagnostic test kits, which are available in barangay health centers, to immediately detect if there is a need for them to be admitted to the hospital.
The Department of Health (DOH) had been rolling-out the Dengue NS1 Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kit that detects the presence of dengue virus as fast as 15 minutes, even at its early stages.
CHO Tropical Disease and Control Division Test Control worker Melodina Babante said the RDT kit helped the reduction of mortality rate in the city since it was distributed in the different health care centers in the country in 2016.
Babante said the testing kits were initially distributed during the time when there was a dengue epidemic in the city.
“During those times, ang DOH 11 nangita gyud og pamaagi na mabawasan ang kaso sa dengue through early detection. Kini sab kay gigahinan og pondo sa city government (During those times, the DOH 11 sought to reduce the number of dengue cases through early detection. The city government then poured funds for the purchasing of kits), Babante said.
Davao City has recorded an increase in dengue cases with 937 as of June 15 this year, while 665 cases were reported in the same period last year.
However, based on the comparative data, the number of deaths has reduced. In 2018, there were 14 deaths recorded, while only five deaths recorded this year.
Babante also said they are introducing the RDT kit in their information drive since not all are aware of its existence.
“Hantod karon daghan gihapong ginikanan ang wala kahibalo nga naa diay ing-ana nga kit. Maong amo silang gina-awhag na magpa-checkup sa mga centers og amo kining magamit (Until now, some are not even aware of the kit. That is why we encourage them to go to the nearest centers in case so that we will be able to introduce it to them),” she said, adding that private hospitals are charging more than P2,000 for these testing kits.
However, she said only authorized medical personnel are allowed to do the testing using the kit.
Currently, there are 625 RDT kits available for usage in the city.
Meanwhile, aside from early detection, she said the public should be proactive in fighting against dengue by conducting the 4S practice.
The 4S practice stands for searching and destroying mosquito breeding places; securing self-protection measures like wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts and daily use of mosquito repellent, seeking early consultation; and support fogging and spraying in hotspot areas.