Cotabato City (June 29, 2016) – The
Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM)
underscores the role of the youth and the community in addressing health issues
such as dengue.
Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, DOH-ARMM Secretary,
said dengue is a year round public health threat and the number of dengue cases
in the region is expected to increase especially now that the wet season has
started.
“The number of dengue cases was down (from
last year’s figures). However, DOH-ARMM will not be confident and will continue
its campaign to control and prevent this disease,” he said.
The DOH-ARMM has recorded 78 dengue cases
with one fatality in the entire region during the first quarter. The number is
significantly lower compared with the first quarter of 2015, where 487 cases
with five fatalities were reported. This year’s figures indicated roughly an
84% decline in the number of cases.
The agency has recorded a total of 2,376
cases with 24 deaths across the region in 2015. Marawi City recorded the highest
number of cases with 758 followed by Maguindanao province with 614 cases.
Dr. Sinolinding emphasized that the key to
control and to prevent the spread of the disease is correct information relayed
to residents. He said a massive information drive, including symposiums, will
be conducted in public schools in the region to create awareness among the
members of the community.
On June 22, DOH-ARMM in coordination with the
region’s Department of Education (DepEd-ARMM) held a dengue symposium at
Tenorio Elementary School in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. The activity was
in line with the celebration of the ASEAN Dengue Day and was attended by around
200 Grade 6 students along with teachers and school nurses from DepEd-ARMM.
Dr. Sinolinding said the information drive
targets public school children since they are the most vulnerable sector in the
population because of their exposure to the environment where cases of dengue
exist.
“Binibigyan natin sila ng sapat na kaalaman
upang maiwasan, ma-control at magawaan ng paraan kung sakaling ito (dengue) ay
pumasok sa kanilang mga tahanan o kaya sila ay maging pasyente (We are giving
them enough knowledge to prevent, control, and to make ways if ever this
disease will penetrate their households or if
they will become the victims),” he said.
“Ang mga impormasyon na makukuha nila ay
pwede nilang ipasa sa kanilang mga kaibigan, kapitbahay, kapamilya, at sino man
sa kanilang komunidad (They can spread the information they will acquire to
their friends, neighbors, family members, and to anyone in their community),”
he added.
Aside from the symposium, the agency also
distributed five Olyset mosquito net rolls to the school. Each roll is 25
meters long and can cover up to six classroom windows.
Dr. Sinolinding said that the symposium is
just the beginning of the campaign. DOH-ARMM will tap local government units
for continuous education and campaign. Furthermore, he encouraged the residents
in ARMM to observe the ‘4S’ in dengue prevention and control.
The ‘4S’ means:
• Search and destroy;
• Seek immediate action;
• Say no to indiscriminate fogging; and
• Self-protection measures.
Dengue is an acute viral infection acquired
from the bite of a female Aedes aegypti mosquito. This fatal disease usually
affects infants and children in tropical and subtropical countries like the
Philippines.
Its signs and symptoms include fever that
extends from two to seven days, skin flushing, loss of appetite, vomiting, and
in severe cases, nose bleeding and bleeding of gums.
(Bureau
of Public Information – Mindanao Expose)
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