ILOILO City – The city government is strengthening its campaign against dengue by holding a city-wide dagyaw, a volunteerism program.
According to Mayor Jerry Treñas, the city will send 300 street sweepers and five trucks to each district’s two barangays with the highest dengue cases.
“They will collect old tires and other garbage that house dengue-carrying mosquitoes,” said Treñas, referring to the day-biting Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness that could sometimes be fatal. Its carrier mosquitoes live and breed in clean, stagnant water.
Engr. Neil Ravena, assistant department head of the General Services Office, said the city-wide dagyaw will be conducted every Saturday, starting Aug. 14.
The GSO also called on the public to coordinate with them if they have old tires and containers to turn-over.
Between January and July 24 this year, 218 dengue cases have been recorded – 14 percent higher than the 191 cases logged in the same period last year, data from the City Health Office-City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CHO-CESU) showed.
Data further showed 83 barangays out of 180 had cases of dengue since January.
Among those with high cases were:
* Arevalo – Calaparan (11) and Sooc (seven)
* La Paz – Caingin (11) and Jereos (six)
* Mandurriao – Hibao-an Sur (seven), Dungon C and Guzman Jesena (six each)
* Jaro – Tabuc Suba (six) and Balabago, Buntatala, Bito-on, and Montinola (four each)
* City Proper – Veterans Village (six) and Zamora, Duran, and Jalandoni Wilson (three each)
* Lapuz – Bo. Obrero (six) and Sinikway (two)
* Molo – Boulevard and South Fundidor (five each) and Poblacion (four)
To combat dengue, the city government urged the city residents to implement the 4S strategy:
* search and destroy breeding places
* self-protection measures
* seek early consultation
* say “yes” to fogging only during outbreaks
Individuals should suspect dengue when a high fever (40 degrees centigrade) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea/vomiting, swollen glands, muscle and joint pains, and rashes.
For severe dengue, the warning signs to look out for are: severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, blood in vomit, fatigue, and restlessness.(With a report from City PIO/PN)
