Baguio dad issues AO for citywide campaign against Dengue

BAGUIO CITY,  - -With the alarming concern on dengue in the city, Mayor Mauricio Domogan issued Administrative Order No 37, series of 2016 dubbed as “Oplan Alis Kiti –kiti, Goodbye Dengue”, directing all constituents, barangays, schools and universities, church organizations, as well as government and private offices in Baguio for an awareness drive and clean – up or ‘Search and Destroy’ activities of possible dengue mosquito breeding sites.

The AO dated July 20 was presented by Secretary to the Mayor Raffy Tallocoy during the special Kapihan sa Baguio media forum at the DOH Regional training Center Wednesday held specifically to call for a multi - sectoral and community actions against Dengue.

City Health Officer Dr. Rowena Galpo reported that from January 1 to July 16, a total of 1,199 Dengue cases were recorded in Baguio, over a four - fold increase compared to the 239 cases recorded during the same period last year.

Based on the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit monitoring report, 50 barangays in the city have clustering or at least three Dengue cases or more. Data showed that  seven barangays  have 10 cases and above, namely Quirino Hill (10), Kias (11), North Sanitary Camp (12), Bakakeng Central (14), Fairview Village (15), Camp 7 (17), and Irisan with 19 cases.

Galpo reiterated the city health office’s call for people in every barangay to help in cleaning up possible Dengue mosquito breeding sites starting from their own households as this is the most effective way to fight the viral disease.

DOH Cordillera Regional Director Lakshmi Legaspi  pointed out that  Dengue is already a year – round concern, which is why aside from the health department and local government units’ campaign against Dengue, the active participation of communities  is very important especially in clean up activities.

Legaspi informed that the Aedes Aepypti, the dengue carrying mosquito, also carries the Zika and Chikunggunya virus.

Aside from Baguio City, Legaspi affirmed that Benguet also registered a big increase in cases.  1,483 cases were recorded from January to July 16   compared to the 437 cases recorded during the same period last year.

Before the forum, Mayor Domogan, joined by Dr. Legaspi and other DOH, City govenment and Health Services officials spearheaded an Oplan Alis Kiti – kiti awareness campaign in several public schools and barangays in the city. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)