WITH the persistent rise of dengue cases in the province, the Iloilo Provincial Government will hold a one-day blood donation activity on July 16 at the Social Grand Hall of Casa Real de Iloilo.
The event is spearheaded by the Provincial Health Office in cooperation with the Association of Iloilo Provincial Government Employees (AIPGE) and the Philippine National Red Cross.
National government agencies are also invited to join the whole-day event.
AIPGE president Joecil Mayor encouraged Capitol workers to participate, as “it is a noble activity for our fellow Ilonggos who suffer from dengue.”
A qualified blood donor must be 18 to 65 years old, weighs 115 lb or 52.5 kilos, with no major or minor surgery or procedure within the year, no medicine or alcohol intake for at least 24 hours, no smoking activities for four hours prior to blood extraction, and has at least five hours of sleep.
The Philippine National Red Cross will provide cards for donors in case they need to request blood for future need.
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. enjoined all employees to be “more aggressive” in the campaign against dengue.
Defensor signed on July 5 Executive Order 016, declaring dengue outbreak in the entire province.
A synchronized dengue cleanup drive in the entire province was also launched last July 6. It was spearheaded by the mayors, municipal and barangay officials, health workers, teachers, and other stakeholders. It will be done in four Saturdays of July.
The governor on Monday, July 8, also called a meeting with the Iloilo Provincial Police Office to involve them in the campaign.
He is also set to meet with all the district engineers to encourage them to maintain sanitation among national, provincial and barangay roads.
“What is more important is we are able to sustain the cleanup drive. And it should be part of our daily habit, not just because we have a problem on dengue,” Defensor said.
Based on the record of the Provincial Health Office from January 1 to June 29, 2019, suspected dengue cases in the province totaled to 4,306, including 20 deaths. This is 777 percent higher than the 491 cases during the same period last year.
Records from the Hospital Management Office show that as of July 8, there are 769 dengue patients admitted in all provincial and district hospitals. (PR)