THE Mabalacat City Government, through its health office, has been conducting a series of information and education campaigns against dengue.
The Mabalacat City Health Office, through its Rural Health Units (RHU), has been visiting sitios, villages, schools, and other private establishments to conduct symposiums against dengue. The objective of the symposium is to provide the community with a unique opportunity to understand various issues relating to the pathophysiology, epidemiology, management and control of dengue.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease that has been proven fatal to those infected. The vector, Aedes mosquito, forages in the daylight and thrives characteristically in stagnant water that is usually ignored.
Symptoms of dengue are high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and skin rashes.
The National Government, through the Department of Health (DOH), declared a national dengue epidemic, as cases continued to rise in the country.
Collated data from the 27 barangays of Mabalacat City confirmed the presence of the disease in the local communities.
Symposiums held in Mabalacat City are organized in parallel with City Ordinance 82, or the City Anti-Dengue Program of Mayor Crisostomo Garbo.
The program aims for a multi-sectoral cooperation in the fight against the disease. A strong teamwork between the local government offices, school personnel and the community is seen as effective deterrent of the insect's manner of propagation.
Symposiums against dengue may serve to alert the community of the prevalence (current status) of the disease particularly in their locality.
Simultaneous with the lectures and information propaganda, vector surveillance and often consultation and blood testing for febrile patients are afforded during every symposium.