Go calls for greater collaboration vs dengue

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go has urged national and local governments as well as the private sector and communities to step up their collaboration efforts to curb the rising dengue cases.

Go, Senate committee on health chair, expressed concern after the Department of Health (DOH) recorded an increase in the number of dengue cases in 15 of 17 regions in the country.

The DOH reported last week that 64,797 cases were recorded nationwide from Jan. 1 to June 25. The figure is 90 percent higher when compared to the same period last year.

“I am really concerned with the increasing number of dengue cases in most regions across the country. The number of dengue cases recorded today is beyond the number of cases of previous years,” Go said.

He called on the DOH, local governments, private sector and communities to closely collaborate and implement more rigorously the enhanced 4-S strategy against dengue. The strategy includes “search and destroy” mosquito breeding places, “secure self-protection” from mosquito bites, “seek early consultation” when signs and symptoms of dengue occur and “say yes to fogging.”

“Let us do more to unburden further our people who are presently struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.

Dengue, a major public health concern, is a mosquito-borne disease that can quickly spread to certain areas, especially where there are spaces or containers holding stagnant water. These areas are known breeding grounds of mosquitoes.

Earlier, the senator advised Filipinos to maintain proper hygiene and cleanliness in their homes and surroundings to prevent and manage potential breakouts of rainy-day diseases like dengue while the nation is still grappling with the pandemic.

“A clean environment has a big effect on the effort to prevent diseases. That is why I appeal to our communities to keep our environment clean, especially when there is stagnant water inhabited by mosquitoes. Let’s also keep the schools clean, especially since many are already conducting face-to-face classes,” Go stressed.

He also reminded Filipinos that they can seek medical assistance from any of the 151 Malasakit Centers across the country. The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that brings together all government agencies that offer medical assistance programs, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The senator has also proposed the establishment of Super Health Centers in key areas across the country, saying that improved access to quality public health services at the grassroots can be attained with such facilities.