Sepsis and cancer of all types remained as the leading causes of death in Dumaguete, with 301 and 282 fatalities, respectively, in 2024, the City Health Office said.
Other leading causes of mortality as reported during the recent meeting of the Local Health Board included myocardial infarction or heart attacks, 257; pneumonia/CAP, 241; kidney diseases, 225; cerebrovascular disease, 209; hypertension/HCVD, 172; vehicular accident, 87; sudden cardiac death, 72; liver cirrhosis, 66; and pulmonary tuberculosis with 51 deaths.
The top 10 significant cases attended to or served by the CHO in 2024 were upper respiratory tract infection, 2,132; punctured wound, 564; dental extraction and check-up, 419; urinary tract infection, 264; animal bite, 235; skin allergy, 125; tonsillitis, 86; gastritis, 91; mental disorder, 75; and hypertension, 67, the city said March 25.
Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, who chairs the Health Board, echoed the call of medical practitioners for the public to live a healthy lifestyle to avoid diseases, particularly those that are preventable.
He reiterated the commitment of his administration to provide medical and hospitalization assistance to those in need of treatment so that the health and welfare of the citizens are promoted and safeguarded.
Remollo initiated the establishment of another CHO in Barangay Talay to further enhance the delivery of primary healthcare services to residents. The facility offers dental, pharmacy, laboratory and social hygiene clinic, birthing home, nursing, medical, nutrition, animal bite, TB Dots, mental rehabilitation, sanitation, and smoke cessation services, including food handlers’ seminars for residents.
The old CHO building continues to provide medical services to residents, mostly in the urban barangays of Dumaguete.
Remollo also approved the hiring of additional doctors and nurses to serve the increasing number of outpatients and live births.
The city government’s Medical Assistance Program, meanwhile, benefitted close to 5,000 residents who were able to get free medicines and vaccines, including anti-tetanus shots in 2024.
In his report to Remollo, CHO head Dr. Benjulit Caturay said they dispensed almost P2 million worth of medicines and vaccines under the Botica sa Masa Program for residents and even non-residents in some cases of animal bites.
The top 10 barangays with the most number of beneficiaries were Cadawinoan (396); Bagacay (383), Talay (357), Bajumpandan (348); Taclobo (275), Banilad (268), Junob (244), Candau-ay (215), Calindagan (158), and Balugo (142).
This medical assistance is in addition to the thousands of other residents, who availed of financial/medical aid for hospitalization and purchase of medicine, implemented by the City Mayor’s Office through the City Social Welfare and Development Office. ||
