MALOLOS CITY— Bulacan is set to deploy an army of elementary and high school students and village watchmen to combat dengue which remain at epidemic level in the province.
The students will be armed with broomsticks and other cleaning and planting instruments as they will be tasked to clean and plant trees in the surroundings of their schools.
The village watchmen or tanods along with members of different non-governmental organizations (NGOs), on the other hand, will take care of highways and other major roads in the province.
“Simula sa Lunes, lahat ng Grade 5 at 6 sa elementary at mga high school students ay makakasama natin sa isang oras na paglilinis bawat linggo, magdadala sila ng walis at maglilinis lalo na sa kapaligiran ng kanilang mga eskwelahan,” Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado said.
Alvarado also said that the deployment of students in the massive clean drive is part of the all out war against dengue in the province which so far stricken 2,598 persons and killed 16.
These records are more than 400 percent higher than the 498 cases last year with nine deaths.
Alvarado also insinuated that the rise of dengue cases in the province was partly due to the fact that older citizens failed to practice cleanliness, thereby failing to teach the same values to younger generation.
“Mga bata naman ngayon ang magtuturo sa mga mas matatanda,” he said.
As this developed, the Provincial Public Health office reported that dengue cases in the province has declined two weeks after the declaration of state of calamity followed by massive search and destroy campaign.
However, the number of cases recorded from January to October 9 remained high compared to same period last year; including the number of deaths.
Records also showed that majority of victims aged six to 12 years old.
“The trend has slowed down in the last two weeks and we are thankful for the cooperation of every community in the fight against dengue,” said Dr. Joycelyn Gomez, provincial health officer.
Records showed that a total of 187 Bulakenyos were stricken with dengue from September 19 to 25 when the state of calamity was declared in the province.
The following week, from September 26 to October 2, the numbers dropped to 138, and based on initial surveillance for week 40 or October 3 to 9, only 49 cases were reported.
Based on weekly morbidity records from the PPHO, September 12 to 18 recorded the most number of dengue cases in Bulacan with 274, followed by 273 cases recorded on August 22 to 28, and 271 cases recorded on August 15 to 21.
At present, PPHO records showed that at total of 2,598 Bulakenyos were stricken with dengue from January to October 9 compared to 494 cases recorded on the same period last year.
The total number of casualties also rose to 16 this year compared to nine recorded last year.
The provincial health officer however said that what is more bothering is the number of cases based on age groups.
Records showed the 840 children from age six to 12 were stricken with dengue, followed by 420 cases from age 13 to 16, and 321 cases from ages 17 to 21.
“We still have a lot of work to do, we have to eradicate dengue by destroying breeding grounds of dengue carrying mosquitoes,” said Gomez.
She also reminded Bulakenyos suffering from symptoms of dengue to immediately consult doctors noting that the government is offering free hospitalization and medications at all government-run hospitals in the province.
The free hospitalization and medication given by government came after the declaration of calamity the other week.
The students will be armed with broomsticks and other cleaning and planting instruments as they will be tasked to clean and plant trees in the surroundings of their schools.
The village watchmen or tanods along with members of different non-governmental organizations (NGOs), on the other hand, will take care of highways and other major roads in the province.
“Simula sa Lunes, lahat ng Grade 5 at 6 sa elementary at mga high school students ay makakasama natin sa isang oras na paglilinis bawat linggo, magdadala sila ng walis at maglilinis lalo na sa kapaligiran ng kanilang mga eskwelahan,” Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado said.
Alvarado also said that the deployment of students in the massive clean drive is part of the all out war against dengue in the province which so far stricken 2,598 persons and killed 16.
These records are more than 400 percent higher than the 498 cases last year with nine deaths.
Alvarado also insinuated that the rise of dengue cases in the province was partly due to the fact that older citizens failed to practice cleanliness, thereby failing to teach the same values to younger generation.
“Mga bata naman ngayon ang magtuturo sa mga mas matatanda,” he said.
As this developed, the Provincial Public Health office reported that dengue cases in the province has declined two weeks after the declaration of state of calamity followed by massive search and destroy campaign.
However, the number of cases recorded from January to October 9 remained high compared to same period last year; including the number of deaths.
Records also showed that majority of victims aged six to 12 years old.
“The trend has slowed down in the last two weeks and we are thankful for the cooperation of every community in the fight against dengue,” said Dr. Joycelyn Gomez, provincial health officer.
Records showed that a total of 187 Bulakenyos were stricken with dengue from September 19 to 25 when the state of calamity was declared in the province.
The following week, from September 26 to October 2, the numbers dropped to 138, and based on initial surveillance for week 40 or October 3 to 9, only 49 cases were reported.
Based on weekly morbidity records from the PPHO, September 12 to 18 recorded the most number of dengue cases in Bulacan with 274, followed by 273 cases recorded on August 22 to 28, and 271 cases recorded on August 15 to 21.
At present, PPHO records showed that at total of 2,598 Bulakenyos were stricken with dengue from January to October 9 compared to 494 cases recorded on the same period last year.
The total number of casualties also rose to 16 this year compared to nine recorded last year.
The provincial health officer however said that what is more bothering is the number of cases based on age groups.
Records showed the 840 children from age six to 12 were stricken with dengue, followed by 420 cases from age 13 to 16, and 321 cases from ages 17 to 21.
“We still have a lot of work to do, we have to eradicate dengue by destroying breeding grounds of dengue carrying mosquitoes,” said Gomez.
She also reminded Bulakenyos suffering from symptoms of dengue to immediately consult doctors noting that the government is offering free hospitalization and medications at all government-run hospitals in the province.
The free hospitalization and medication given by government came after the declaration of calamity the other week.
