THE Bacolod City Council has approved a resolution requesting Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, through the City Health Office (CHO), to launch intensified information dissemination campaign on the health risk and prevention of chikungunya disease.
Councilor Claudio Puentevella, who authored the resolution, said last November 28, 2022, the Department of Health (DOH) issued a Chikungunya advisory that the country logged a total of 551 cases of the said disease and a 589 percent higher case load compared last year.
He said through proper information dissemination drives, the spread of chikungunya disease can be prevented in the City of Bacolod and to inform the public of the risk imposed by the disease to their health and well-being.
He added Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates the protection and promotion of the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.
Puentevella noted that Section 16 of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991 mandates the Local Government Units to exercise their power which are essential to the promotion of general welfare of the people.
Puentevella said chikungunya fever is an illness caused by a virus spread by mosquitoes.
“The name means "bends you up" or "stooped walk" because the infection causes severe joint and muscle pain,” he said.
He added other symptoms include sudden high fever, headache, fatigue, rash, nausea and red eyes. It often appears within two to seven days after a bite from an infected mosquito.