Islamic City of Marawi (14 July) -- Lanao del Sur health officials and various stakeholders agreed that proper sanitation and cleanliness is still the best measure to prevent the spread of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
The consensus was reached during the recent provincial dengue task force coordination meeting spearheaded by the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
The escalating incidence of dengue cases in the province prompted the IPHO to organize the task force to combat the dreaded disease.
According to Dr. Alinader Minalang, IPHO head, the most effective activity to fight against the threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever is early prevention by maintaining cleanliness in the surroundings.
The public must practice regular cleaning of the surroundings in order to eliminate and destroy the breeding places of the mosquitoes which are carriers of the dengue fever, he said.
Dengue fever is a major health burden not just in the province but of the entire nation. It is an acute viral disease that causes fever, severe headache, bone and joint pains, nausea, vomiting and prostration. The principal vector is the mosquito called Aedes aegypti.
Minalang said rapid urbanization, climate change, migration of people and poor waste management systems are some factors that have contributed to abundant man-made mosquito breeding places and hence resulted in increasing trend of dengue fever.
On the other hand, Governor Mamintal 'Bombit' Adiong Jr. gave marching orders to his staff to extend whatever help is possible to support the dengue prevention and control program of the IPHO.
Minalang likewise acknowledged and thanked the all-out support of the provincial government in the battle against dengue.
The provincial dengue task force coordination met was well-participated by representatives from the Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Red Cross, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Amai Pakpak Medical Center, Provincial Health Office, five (5) district hospitals in the province, City Health Office, 103rd brigade of the Philippine Army, non-government organizations and the media.
No comments