ILOILO – The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) is set to deploy additional medical personnel to Badiangan town this week to address rising dengue cases, particularly in Barangay Odiongan which recorded 15 cases and two fatalities last week.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, IPHO head, emphasized the need to focus on case management. More doctors and medical technologists will support existing efforts, especially in accommodating individuals seeking consultations.
While a team was sent to Barangay Odiongan last week, its services were limited to Tuesday through Thursday. Quiñon emphasized the need for a daily medical team presence to ensure comprehensive care.
“Just to ensure nobody will be missed,” Quiñon told Panay News.
Dengue can be life-threatening and typically manifests with a sudden high fever reaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit, accompanied by at least two of the following symptoms: severe headache, persistent nausea or vomiting, swollen glands, muscle and joint pains, pain behind the eyes, and red spots or patches on the skin.
The medical team from IPHO will remain in Barangay Odiongan until there are no more reported cases of dengue.
On June 6, an IPHO team visited Badiangan, specifically Barangay Odiongan, to conduct site inspection in response to the clustering of dengue cases there.
The dengue virus is spread to people through mosquito bites, and a person can be infected with dengue multiple times.
Dengue mosquitoes are day-biting and thrive and reproduce in clean, stagnant water.
Quiñon urged the community to join the 4S strategy against dengue: search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, take self-protection measures, seek early treatment, and support fogging or spraying in hotspot areas.
“Please cooperate. Many mosquitoes are now infected with dengue, and your family could be next,” Quiñon said.
She also encouraged everyone in Badiangan, especially in Barangay Odiongan, to wear protective clothing to avoid mosquito bites and to visit health facilities if any signs or symptoms of dengue appear.
Also on June 6, Mayor Suzette Mamon issued Executive Order (EO) No. 040, which mandates a massive anti-dengue drive throughout the municipality.
Here are the specific orders in the EO:
* for Punong Barangays to mobilize a clean-up drive on individual households with close supervision by members of Barangay Councils, Barangay Health Workers, and other volunteer workers, in coordination with the Municipal Health Office through the midwives assigned in the area.
* for Punong Barangays to activate the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the conduct of the said activities.
* The Municipal Health Office Team lead by the Municipal Health Officer, together with the midwife assigned in the clustered barangay, Barangays Health Workers, Day Care Workers, and other volunteer workers must conduct sanitary health inspection and dengue symptoms monitoring in households.
* Misting for individual households will be conducted both to contain the spread of dengue cases and as a preventive measure. Fogging of specific areas will be done, provided social preparation and health protocols shall be strictly complied.
* Community and household clean-up shall be conducted continuously at 4 p.m. every Friday under the close monitoring of the respective Punong Barangays, and the Municipal Health Office through the Sanitary Inspector and Midwife assigned to clustered barangay/s.
Badiangan declared a dengue outbreak on May 30 due to the sharp rise cases. As of last week, it recorded 37 cases with two deaths./PN