The Provincial Health Office is calling on local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental to activate their dengue task forces.
The majority of the LGUs in Negros Occidental still have not formed their task forces that should be headed by the mayor of the locality, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said Tuesday, July 19.
The local dengue task forces need to be activated to ensure coordinated and swift responses against the rising dengue cases, he said.
Tumimbang said he will call a meeting with LGU and DepEd representatives for dengue updating and to discuss the need to implement the Enhanced 4-S campaign.
The Enhanced 4-S campaign stands for Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites, secure Self-protection measures like wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts and daily use of mosquito repellent, Seek early consultation, and Support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas where increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent an impending outbreak.
The DepEd needs to be involved in the campaign against dengue with the expected face-to-face classes in August, Tumimbang said.
There might be schools located in barangays where there are clustering of dengue cases, he added.
Meanwhile, the provincial government will hold a noise campaign to raise awareness in the top ten dengue-hit LGUs in Negros Occidental, Tumimbang said.
The top ten dengue-hit LGUs in Negros Occidental are Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, Hinigaran, San Carlos City, Bago City, Binalbagan, Pontevedra, Cadiz City and Cauayan, the PHO reported.
Negros Occidental has the highest number of dengue cases in Western Visayas this year at 1,869 or an increase by 777 percent compared to 2021, the DOH reported.
The province also has the highest number of dengue deaths in WV at ten this year.
Fast lanes for dengue patients in hospitals and LGU clinics remain activated, Tumimbang said.*