City hospital opens more wards as dengue cases rise

THE J.R. Borja General Hospital (JRBGH) is opening more wards for dengue patients as cases continue to rise.

Dr. Ramon Nery, chief of JRBGH, said the hospital is caring for 301 dengue patients as of August 7.

“We have already extended our wards, and we are coming up with another extension ward,” Nery said.

Nery assured patients they will not be refused admission, even as he sought the help of private hospitals in accepting dengue patients.

He said that under the law, 10 percent (one in 10) of hospital beds in a private hospital should be dedicated to charity cases.

“If we are doing the same things, we will be having the same results, if dili ta mag-institute og extraordinary interventions to address this, then motaas gyud siya kay mao man ang pattern. We are really very aggressive,” Nery said.

The Cagayan de Oro City Government on Friday, August 9, created the City Dengue Task Force to intensify measures against the mosquito-borne viral disease.

City Health Officer Fe Bongcas said that although cases in Cagayan de Oro City have not reached the city's epidemic threshold, the task force is needed for a coordinated action of various government agencies against dengue.

The creation of the task force means the activation of the incident command system for dengue.

The task force is composed of the heads of government agencies such as Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Office of Community Affairs, Liga ng mga Barangay, City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Information Office, and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department.

According to the City Health Office, Barangay Carmen has the highest number of dengue cases at 203, followed by Kauswagan with 96 cases, Balulang with 94, Canitoan with 84, and Gusa with 82.

Lumbia has 80 cases, while Iponan and Patag have 76 cases. Lapasan has 75, Cugman has 72, and Bugo has 63 dengue cases.