July 19-25, 2010

2 Capiz villages are dengue ‘hot spots’

By Jimen B. Guillermo, PIA

     ROXAS CITY -––  Two barangays in Capiz are already considered as dengue hot spots.

According to Information Officer Jeoffry Espiritu of the Provincial Health Office of Capiz, barangays Banica and Lawaan in Roxas City are also considered as dengue hot spot areas.

     He explained that to be considered as hot spot area, a barangay must have at least 2 to 4 dengue cases in a week for 4 consecutive weeks.

Data from the PHO disclosed that from January to July 17 this year, Capiz has already 1,006 dengue cases with 8 fatalities.

     Of the total dengue victims in the province, 292 of whom are in Roxas City, Espiritu said, adding that the city has already recorded 3 deaths.

     On the other hand, Roxas City Health Office Program Coordinator Mignon Bermejo said the city’s Sanitary Inspectors are already conducting barangay-based inspections and surveillance especially in the declared hot spot areas here.

     Bermejo stressed that they are also closely coordinating with the barangay officials and different schools for the clean-up drive, particularly destroying the breeding sites of mosquitoes.

     Meanwhile, Department of Health representative in Capiz Dr. Elmer Bucayan pointed out that with the declaration of some areas as dengue hot spots, the people in the barangay must be mobilized to do their share in this clean-up drive.

     Bucayan also said that express lanes for dengue patients must also be put in place in all public and private hospitals, including the rural health units.

     “Persons having fever must already be considered as dengue case and must be closely monitored,” he said, adding that said patients must be given priority attention through the express lane.

     He also encouraged health officials throughout Capiz to have a simultaneous one-time “big-bang” information drive about the increasing number dengue cases in the province.