CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- A series of activities is set to be conducted by the local government here for the month of June as part of its awareness campaign to fight against dengue, the City Health Office (CHO) announced on Thursday, June 2.
In an online briefer, CHO medical officer Dr. Ted Yu said the start-up activity for the month will be on Friday, May 3, where the city government will conduct a clean-up drive in Barangay Puntod.
Yu assured the conduction of the same activity to the different barangays in the city as part of their commemoration of the National Dengue Awareness Month.
“Rest assured we will conduct a series of activities this June which includes our blood-letting program for our dengue patients just in case we need blood, in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross,” he said.
City mayor Oscar Moreno, Yu said, is expected to join the start-up activity together with the different health officials and barangays officials.
The medical officer already noted the slight increase of dengue cases for the past months this year compared to cases in 2021.
Dr. Joselito Retuya Jr., the city epidemiologist, earlier reported the 362 dengue cases for the first quarter of 2022 in the city. This is 160 cases higher compared to the first quarter data in 2021.
The Barangay Carmen - the biggest barangay in the city - remains the area with the most high number of dengue cases this year, tallying 53 cases for the first quarter.
Mayor Moreno underscored the importance of preparation in fighting dengue as it is expected to rise in the rainy season.
“This is a very nice program. The cases of dengue are expected to rise at the onset of the rainy season, that is why we need to prepare,” Moreno said.
Yu urged the public to strengthen the ‘5S strategy’ to fight the possible surge of dengue cases amid the ongoing threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
The 5S strategy consists of search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites, self-protection measures, seek early consultation, support fogging for impending outbreaks and sustain hydration.