The integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) through its Mosquito-borne Diseases Surveillance Team (MBDsT) had conducted pro-active strategies to prevent the outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases particularly dengue which is now prevalent province-wide since the start of the year.
IPHO-MBDST Chief SSI Jose Barroquillo Jr. disclosed during the recent Kapihan sa Kapitolyo media forum that their team had initiated series of activities as dengue cases started to hit the province this year.
The activities, according to Barroquillo, started with community mobilization such as creation of Barangay Dengue Task Force which focuses on 4S – Information and Education Campaign (IEC). 4S stands for Search and Destroy, Seek early consultation, Self-protection and Say yes to fogging/ misting in case of outbreak.
ABC President and Board Member Rolando Malabuyoc in a rejoinder during the media forum revealed that the Liga ng Barangay has issued a memorandum to all barangay captains to conduct clean-up drive particularly Operation Kulob reinforced with 4S-IEC to mitigate dengue.
Barroquilo likewise stressed that they emphasized the “5 Minuto Lang” strategy to highlight the conduct of daily 5-minute clean-up drive in the community, including Operation Kulob.
“Container Management is the most effective strategy in fighting dengue,” Baroquillo said, and further stressed with the slogan “Pag Walang kiti-kiti, Walang Lamok, Walang Dengue.”
Other strategies initiated by IPHO-MBDST include providing technical assistance and training BDTF, provision of Long-lasting Insecticide-treated Nets (LLITN), insecticides and larvaesides donated by the Department of Health (DOH).
The Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU) is receiving daily dengue cases report from MHOs to help them monitor clustering of cases in barangays.
As of Morbidity Week #22, PESU has recorded 728 dengue cases with the top 5 led by Koronadal City registering the highest cases at 177, followed by Polomolok – 158, Surallah – 99, Banga – 84 and Tboli – 57.
