Islamic City of Marawi (14 July) -- Faced with the growing number of dengue cases in Lanao del Sur, various stakeholders led by the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) and the provincial government met yesterday and jointly organized a task force to combat the dreaded dengue disease.
The Provincial Dengue Task Force was formed to increase awareness on the fatal disease and to formulate a plan of prevention and control responsive to the rising number of dengue cases.
IPHO Chief Dr. Alinader Minalang said the task force will strengthen intersectoral coordination and social mobilization to be able come-up with a unified approach to combat the alarming dengue cases in the province.
Present conditions in the province showed that the numbers are increasing as there had been 400 cases and 2 deaths reported from January to July this year alone.
Dengue is the most crucial viral disease and we considered it a year-round public threat so we in the IPHO have embarked on early offensive against it by going through massive information drive such as intensive radio plugging and distribution of IEC materials, school hopping for the conduct of 'search and destroy' operations, as well as other community activities to better inform the public, Minalang said.
However, the Provincial Health Officer stressed that dengue prevention and control calls for a more intensive and collaborative approach.
He cited that unlike other viral diseases, the fight against dengue relies on early prevention and community action.
Minalang likewise called on stakeholders especially local leaders to take emergency measures to combat dengue in their respective communities.
"There is a need for local authority to help. Active local initiative and participation is essential in the fight against dengue," he further said.
"Dengue prevention and control needs collaborative action and we need to act now," Minalang stressed
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