Dengue cases in South Cotabato in the first four months of 2010 are down by more than half, a health official here reported today.
Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., provincial health officer of South Cotabato, said that from January until April 28, South Cotabato recorded 138 dengue cases, which he added is 59 percent lower than the 343 cases in the same period last year.
He attributed the feat to the efforts of the provincial government and the stakeholders to combat the mosquito-borne disease.
“We have institutionalized our campaign against dengue,” he said.
In June last year, following a steep rise in the number of dengue victims, the IPHO and the provincial government conducted consultative meetings with stakeholders, including barangay officials, government and public offices, civic organizations, school officials and many others to set up a comprehensive and unified anti-dengue campaign.
One of the strategies they adopted was to relegate the responsibility of ridding the surroundings of possible breeding sites to the villages and barangay officials that resulted in province-wide synchronized cleanup drives.
Massive anti-dengue information campaigns were also conducted in schools with the help of education officials and in communities in partnership with barangay officials and barangay health units.
In coordination with the Department of Health, Olyset-treated nets were distributed to schools and public hospitals for added protection of children and patients.
Despite this success in their efforts to curtail the spread of the disease, Aturdido reminded residents not to relax from the observance of the 4S anti-dengue strategy – Search and destroy, Self-protection measures, Seek early consultation, and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.
Early this week, the National Epidemiology Center reported that as of April 9, the number of dengue cases in the country has reached 18,885, including 114 deaths.
NCR, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon reported the highest number of cases. (PIA 12)
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