Lanao Sur, Cotabato execs pool efforts versus dengue

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The provincial governments of Lanao del Sur and North Cotabato are scrambling to address the high prevalence of dengue cases now in both provinces.

The office of Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. said in a statement Friday that he and physician Allen Minalang, chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office, met in Marawi City this week to map out strategies meant to address the problem.

The meeting was attended by key members of the medical community in Lanao del Sur and its capital, Marawi City, and senior education officials from both areas.

Adiong has assured to support the anti-dengue campaign of Minalang’s office.

Minalang reported during the emergency meeting that there have been 663 dengue cases in Lanao del Sur from January to early August this year.

The figures were higher than what were listed for the same period in 2018.

Adiong and Minalang agreed to intensify the anti-dengue programs of the Department of Health in the municipalities of Lanao del Sur and in all of the more than 90 barangays in Marawi City.

The Army’s 103rd Brigade, which has jurisdiction over Marawi City and nearby towns, have committed support to the efforts of Adiong and the provincial health office.

Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana of the Western Mindanao Command said Friday he has directed the 103rd Brigade to work along with the Lanao del Sur Anti-Dengue Task Force in educating residents on how to prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.

North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco said Friday she was also alarmed learning this week that dengue cases in her province have doubled in the past seven months if compared to last year’s recorded cases in its 17 towns and more than 40 barangays in Kidapawan City.

The Department of Health-12 reported Wednesday that North Cotabato had 4,765 dengue cases in recent months, or a 221 percent leap in last year’s number of residents who got infected with dengue virus.

North Cotabato has the highest number of dengue cases from among other Region 12 provinces that also covers Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato in the past two quarters this year.

“I ordered the officials and rank-and-file personnel of the provincial health office to work harder to address the problem,” said Catamco, a newcomer governor who assumed office only last June 30

Catamco also pledged to support the anti-dengue campaign of the North Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office.

Physician Eva Rabaya, a senior provincial health official, said the number of dengue cases in North Cotabato has reached epidemic proportions.

Catamco said she is expecting the local government units in North Cotabato to maximize their anti-dengue activities in support of her administration’s effort to lower the prevalence of the disease in the province and in its capital, Kidapawan City.

Catamco said the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council has drafted a resolution urging the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to declare the province under state of calamity due to a dengue epidemic.