THE Provincial Board (PB) of Misamis Oriental recently passed a resolution urging all seven provincial hospitals in the province to put up a dengue desk to prioritize dengue patients.
Though dengue cases in the province is not “alarming,” Board Member Arsenio Kho Jr., author of the resolution, said the Provincial Government should do something before it gets worse, especially since it is already the rainy season.
“Dengue patients should be prioritized in all hospital that is why a dengue desk should be put up and required in all provincial hospitals of Misamis Oriental,” Kho said.
Kho’s resolution has drawn support from co-legislator Jesus Jardin who chairs the committee on health and sanitation and even proposed to recommend the resolution at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) and to both national and city hospitals.
However, Board Member Oliver Actub expressed disagreement because the Provincial Government could not impose its resolution and ordinances to the National and City governments.
But Jardin insisted that while the proposed resolution will be mandatory to provincial hospitals, it is also wise to suggest it to both the National and City Governments.
“It’s up to them to implement our proposed resolution,” Jardin insisted during Monday’s regular session.
As of early July, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) already recorded 571 dengue cases from January to June this year, a far cry from the 171 cases recorded during the same period last year.
PHO Chief Ignacio Moreno said of the 571 dengue cases, at least 10 persons have already died.
Moreno said most of the cases recorded came from the municipality of Tagoloan with 118 where the first fatality was recorded, particularly in Barangay Natumolan.
Other barangays in the town with high incidence of dengue cases include Poblacion with 35 and Sta. Cruz, 28.
Aside from Tagoloan, the other areas in Misamis Oriental with high incidence of dengue cases include Gingoog City with 86 and Villanueva with 54.
With these reported cases, Moreno is reiterating the government's preventive campaign to avoid getting sick with dengue, which is cleanliness and good hygiene. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)