The San Carlos City Health Office, in coordination with the Provincial Health Office of Negros Occidental, officially launched the SaBAYANg 4,5 sa Negros Occidental, a dengue prevention campaign, at the Brgy. 1 Covered Court on July 28.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said SaBAYANg 4,5 sa Negros Occidental is a strengthened campaign against dengue through the integration of five team activities consisting of health education, vector control and surveillance, fever surveillance, logistics and data management to the usual four strategies: search and destroy, self-protection, seek early consultation and support fogging.
Tumimbang added that the program was also launched in other cities and municipalities in the province particularly in areas with high incidence of dengue.
Tumimbang also said that in 2019 dengue cases hit all-time high with 12,000 cases recorded in Negros Occidental, during the pandemic between 2020 to 2021 cases were low, while starting January this year the PHO recorded more than 2,000 cases.
He said he is hopeful that the enhanced dengue campaign will be effective since this is another way they considered to strengthen the program thru involvement and identification of gaps and issues.
Cris Ian Caballero, a nurse and City Dengue Program coordinator, said San Carlos City has 185 recorded cases, putting it in the list of the cities with high dengue cases in the province, following Himamaylan, Kabankalan and La Carlota.
Caballero added that Brgy. Rizal is top on the list with 38 cases followed by Brgy. 1 with 25 cases. He cited that stagnant water in an identified area in Villarante Village suspected to be the breeding ground of dengue mosquito is one the reasons why the barangay has the highest cases.
San Carlos Mayor Renato Gustilo urged everyone to be cautious and constantly clean respective area to prevent and minimize dengue cases in the city.
The event kicked off with a motorcade from the CHO to Brgy. 1 where a program was held participated in by representatives from the PHO, CHO, Brgy. 1, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Bureau of Fire Protection, local Department of Education and Philippine National Police.
A short lecture on dengue was also facilitated by CHO.
Also present during the program launching were City Health Officer Dr. Arniel Laurence Portuguez and Brgy. 1 Punong Barangay Joselito Lopez and kagawads.*
