Alarmed on the record showing Central Visayas topping the country’s dengue cases, the Regional Development Council (RDC) passed a resolution, enjoining all local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas to pass an ordinance on the mandatory destruction of mosquito breeding sites in all households and establishments in their localities.
This came upon the resolution of the RDC-7 Social Development Committee (SDC) recommending that the RDC Full Council enjoin LGUs in Central Visayas to undertake the measure.
DSWD-7 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre, SDC co-chair, cited the statistics showing that in 2016, Central Visayas posted the most number of dengue cases in the country.
In 2016, Central Visayas had a total of 28,900 cases and the most number of deaths due to dengue at 254.
“Dengue is recognized as a major global health concern, particularly affecting the tropical and sub-tropical regions,” Macapobre said.
On this, she underscored “environmental sanitation as the most effective way to eliminate and destroy breeding sites of the mosquito carrying the disease”.
In fact, “the Department of Health implemented the National Dengue Prevention and Control Program nationwide in 1998”.
Through the program, DOH intended to increase “the percentage of households practicing the removal of mosquito breeding places”.
In Bohol, the Provincial Health Office noted on the fast rise of dengue cases in the first seven weeks of 2017.
PHO’s Provincial Epidiomology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) already recorded 185 dengue cases during the period.
The record shows that Tagbilaran City posted topped the list with 48 cases and Loon followed with 15 cases.
Panglao then ranked third with 14 cases, followed by Dauis with 10 cases.
During the period, Tubigon and Maribojoc had seven cases each, while Baclayon had six cases.
In 2016, dengue cases in Bohol reached 2,878 with 20 deaths.
In 2015, Bohol had 14 deaths from the 2,883 cases recorded.
Bohol had 2,700 recoded cases of dengue in 2010, an alarming huge increase from the 623 cases in 2009.
The PHO recorded 2,102 cases in 2008, also an increase from the 1,679 cases in 2007.
Three deaths had been recorded from the 231 dengue cases recorded in 2006; while there were 21 deaths from the 1,113 cases recorded in 2005.
There were also five deaths from the 283 cases in 2004; three deaths from the 365 cases in 2003; two deaths from the 289 cases in 2002; five deaths from the 712 cases in 2001; and 70 cases in 2000.
Cebu posted 19,779 dengue cases with 194 deaths in 2016; while Negros Oriental had 39 deaths from the 5,760 dengue cases then.
Siquijor had the lowest record with only 574 cases with one death in 2016.
In 2015, Cebu had 57 deaths from the 9,161 dengue cases; while Negros Oriental had six deaths from the 2,221 cases; and Siquijor had 203 cases without death.