• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The City Health Office (CHO) has called on Bacolod barangays Aug. 27 to lead the resumption of the 4 o’clock habit in the fight against the spread of dengue, with the cases up 117.5 percent in the first eight months of this year.
The CHO logged 794 cases with three deaths from Jan. 1 to Aug. 17 this year, from 365 infections with three deaths in the same period last year.
“This is a community concern. The City Health Office alone cannot answer and solve this problem,” CHO head, Dr. Ma. Carmela Gensoli, stressed in appealing to barangays to lead in reviving the 4 o’clock habit in their respective community.
She recalled that before the coronavirus disease pandemic struck, it had been the practice in barangays to clean surroundings and eliminate potential breeding sites for dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Gensoli said reviving this practice will drum up awareness and the importance of clean surroundings to fight the spread of dengue, as she noted an increase in patient admissions at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital due to dengue, especially with the rainy season.
There were 192 new cases for Week 33, or from Aug. 11-17, from the 168 cases the week prior.
Taculing topped the list of barangays with highest dengue cases at 88, followed by Bata, 79, and Villamonte with 61.
She stressed that while the current situation does not warrant a dengue outbreak declaration yet, it is important for Bacolodnons to regularly practice the 4S in dengue prevention and control, or searching and destroying mosquito breeding sites, seeking early consultation, ensuring self-protection by wearing long sleeves pants, and supporting fogging or spraying in areas with clustering of cases.
Gensoli said the CHO has been intensifying its advocacy campaign, as well as the conduct of fogging in schools and areas with clustering of cases, and urged Bacolodnons to also do their part. | CGC
