ILOILO – The Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan town and the 12 provincial government-run district hospitals are prepared for a possible surge in dengue cases.
They hope to avoid what happened in 2019 during a dengue outbreak – patients spilling to hospital hallways due to a shortage in rooms and beds.
Dengue is a viral disease with flu-like symptoms and caused by day-biting mosquitoes that breed in clean, stagnant water.
According to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., the provincial government is also ready to augment the hospitals’ medical personnel. It may utilize around 1,000 healthcare workers it hired for coronavirus vaccination.
Hospital supplies are also being ensured such as IV fluids, medicines and test kits, the governor added, including hospital tents in case more spaces for dengue patients are needed.
Defensor also cited the April 2020 memorandum of agreement of the provincial government with tertiary hospitals in Iloilo City – that these facilities would accept severe dengue cases from the province.
On May 23, Defensor also issued Executive Order No. 270 escalating dengue surge prevention and management measures. It also emphasized the following:
* maximize implementation of the memorandum of agreement with the Western Visayas Medical Center, West Visayas State University Medical Center and Western Visayas Sanitarium in referral of patients and resources sharing
* continuing support to health personnel, facilities, equipment and supplies requirements of municipal / city health offices.
* the Provincial Civil Defense COVID-19 Case Referral System shall be adopted as the system for the management of referral of patients
These are the district hospitals of the provincial government:
* Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian town
* Barotac Viejo District Hospital in Barotac Viejo
* Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital in Calinog
* Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Passi City
* Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial District Hospital in Lambunao
* Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital in Dumangas
* Federico Roman Tirador Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Janiuay
* Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan
* Jesus M. Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in Balasan
* Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in Cabatuan
* Rep. Pedro G. Trono Memorial District Hospital in Guimbal
* Sara District Hospital in Sara
* San Joaquin Mother and Child Hospital in San Joaquin.
From Jan. 1 to May 28, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) recorded 322 dengue cases with six deaths – double the 160 cases with zero death recorded in the same period in 2021.
In March, Defensor already placed the entire province under dengue Alert Level 5 so that people would be compelled to follow the “5S” strategy against a dengue outbreak. These are the following:
* search and destroy mosquito breeding sites
* seek early consultation
* self-protection
* say “yes” to fogging only in hotspot areas
* social distancing and other minimum public health standards
Here’s the breakdown of the 322 dengue cases so far recorded this year: San Joaquin (79), Guimbal (30 cases with two deaths), Tubungan (26), Miag-ao (18 cases with one death), Estancia (17), Oton (15), Pototan (13), Tigbauan (12), San Dionisio (eight), Passi City (eight cases with one death); Balasan, Carles, Sara, Santa Barbara (seven each); Concepcion (six); Ajuy and Leon (five each); Igbaras (four cases with one death); San Enrique, Cabatuan, Barotac Nuevo, and Dumangas (four each); Leganes (three cases with one death); Batad, Zarraga, Calinog, Pavia, Dingle, and New Lucena (three each); Lambunao, Banate, Dueñas, and Lemery (two each); and Mina, Alimodian, and Barotac Viejo (one case each).
No dengue cases were recorded in San Rafael, Badiangan, Janiuay, San Miguel, Anilao, Bingawan, and Maasin./PN
