DOH-DepEd-LGU Forge Partnership vs. Dengue

Sorsogon City- Education, health and city government officials of Sorsogon forged a partnership as government intensified its campaign against dengue which continues to rise in the Bikol region.

DOH officials led by Assistant Regional Director Virgilio Ludovice turned over Olyset Net worth P1.5 million to the City Schools Division led by Dr. Virgilio Real, Schools Division Superintendent, and the city government represented by City Health Officer Dr. Larry Garrido, City Coun. Mike Go, chair of the city council's health committee, and City Legal Officer Atty. Glenn Olbes.

In a simple turn-over program held here Tuesday, Ludovice said the DOH is distributing nets to various DepEd divisions in the region as part of its campaign to establish dengue-free schools and to arrest the increasing number of dengue victims.

He described as alarming the current situation of dengue cases in the region where most provinces registered triple-digit increases to as much as 700 per cent.

Ludovice stressed that the trend was opposite to the national trend where a decrease is now being noted.

Based on the statistics presented by Camilo Aquino, DOH mosquito-borne disease coordinator, the highest increase of 700 per cent in dengue cases was registered in Catanduanes wherein 192 victims have been confirmed for the period January-September 10 this year compared to only 24 during the same period last year.

Albay registered 406 cases with one death, up by 389 per cent from 83 cases registered last year, Sorsogon came in third with 210 cases with three deaths up by 262 per cent from 58 cases in 2009 and Masbate up by 28 per cent from 38 cases last year to just 49 this year.

Of the six provinces only Camarines Sur registered a decrease in dengue cases although still big in number with 562 cases down from 842 but chalked up five fatalities compared to just one death in 2009. Camarines Norte maintained its record of cases at 17 for 2009 and 2010.

Aquino said that over-all statistics for Bicol showed an increase of 35 per cent in confirmed cases and 125 per cent in deaths.

Ludovice said the net given to DepEd is pre-treated with permetrine, a chemical that is proven effective in repelling mosquitoes and other insects and could last for seven years.

He said the net may be used as screen for windows and doors of school buildings to protect children from mosquitoes.

Real expressed gratitude for the donation saying it would immensely help them in their own school-based campaign against dengue.

He said they would seek the help of the Parent-Teachers Associations in installing the nets but would await the information from the City Health Office which barangay should be prioritized.

Olbes, meanwhile, said the city government is willing to assist the DepeEd as he urged all sectors to lend a hand in the campaign.

The fight against the disease is not the sole responsibility of the government but should be a shared undertaking of all sectors, he pointed out.

Dr. Edgar Garcia, provincial health officer, meanwhile, assured the public that health workers are exerting efforts to assist the community in combating the recurring menace.

Garcia also thanked the DOH, DepEd and the local government units for their help in the campaign noting that an increase in number of cases has been recorded in the province.