Council pushes strengthened dengue awareness program

October 5, 2020 Metro BLISTT

The city council has proposed to amend the Dengue Awareness Ordinance (Ordinance 10- 2007) in order to intensify the mitigation measures of the city against dengue infection.
The proposed amendatory ordinance came about due to the findings of the Sanggunian’s Legislative Monitoring and Evaluation Section (LMES). Based on the information and inputs given by concerned offices, the tracking team concluded that Ordinance 10-2007 is not fully implemented.
The LMES suggested that the ordinance be amended incorporating the suggestions and recommendations of the various implementing offices. Under the amendatory ordinance, the Department of Health- Cordillera Administrative Region (DOHCAR) shall provide technical assistance on the management and control of dengue instead of merely providing information, education, and communication materials.
Aside from observing proper sanitation in the school premises, educating students about dengue, and informing parents about the importance of proper sanitation, the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education-Cordillera Administrative Region (CHED-CAR)shall also establish a referral system for fever/suspect dengue cases for students and staff and enforce the 4S in anti-dengue efforts not only in schools but also in the community.
According to the DOH-CAR, the 4S are: Seeking and destroying breeding places of mosquitos; Self-protection measures; Seeking early medical consultation; and [Stopping] indiscriminate fogging. It shall also be the duty of the DepEd and CHED-CAR to advocate health education in formal and informal settings to learners, parents, and Deped personnel. Lastly, the Schools Division Office shall have direct supervision of the public and private elementary schools, junior high school, and senior high schools in the city in relation to dengue awareness in schools. Aside from information dissemination, referring patients to the Department of Health hospitals, and helping in the active surveillance of dengue, the Department of Social Welfare and Development- CAR shall conduct dengue prevention activities for Pantawid family household heads during Family Development Sessions.
The proposed ordinance also seeks to update the strategies for prevention and control indicated therein. The proposed ordinance proposed the use of Integrated Vector Management (IVM), a rational decision-making process promoting the use of a range of interventions and aiming to promote the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, ecological soundness, and sustainability of vector control measures. The key elements of IVM strategy are: Advocacy, social mobilization, and legislation; collaboration within the health sector; integrated approach; evidence-based decision-making; and capacity building.
Under the proposed ordinance, a total amount of P600,000.00 shall be included in the budget of the City Health Services Office starting Calendar Year 2021 and every year thereafter.
The proposal was referred to the Committee on Health, Sanitation, Ecology, and Environmental Protection for review and recommendation.
Jordan G. Habbiling/ABN