With the increasing number of dengue cases in Pampanga, the provincial government spearheaded a one-day lecture on hospital dengue management to further enhance the knowledge and capability of health service providers in the various district hospitals of the province.
Through the joint efforts of the Provincial Health Office and Provincial Board Member Monina Laus, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) committee on health, medical specialists of the Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial conducted lectures on the hospital management of suspected, probable and confirmed cases of dengue.
Laus said that the activity aimed to provide the health service providers in the nine district hospitals of the province with adequate knowledge and understanding on proper management of dengue cases.
She added that this is also in line with Governor Lilia G. Pineda’s desire to decongest the JBL Hospital of dengue patients as the chief provincial executive strongly recommends that dengue patients be brought to the district hospitals as JBL Regional Hospital is already congested.
Laus also announced that the governor will utilize the Ricardo Rodriquez Memorial Hospital in Bacolor town to accommodate dengue patients.
At present, more than 500 dengue patients are confined at the JBL Regional Hospital which has 250-bed capacity only.
Laus called on the chiefs of hospitals, nurses and midwives to support the provincial government’s efforts to address the dengue problem even as she encouraged them to perform their duties and responsibilities with passion.
The board member likewise stressed the need for the general public to maintain clean and healthy surroundings and eliminate the breeding places of dengue-carrier mosquitoes.
More than 1,000 cases of dengue were recently reported in various areas of Pampanga, most of which occurred in the municipalities of Mabalacat, City of San Fernando, Angeles City and Apalit.
This figure, according to Dr. Marilu Malamug of the Center for Health Development in Region 3, is much higher over the number of dengue cases recorded in the same period last year.
Reports show that in July 2010, about 287 cases of dengue were reported while in July this year, about 986 cases were recorded throughout Pampanga, except Angeles City.
Considered as dengue hot spots are Barangays San Juan in Apalit, Dau in Mabalacat and Sindalan in the City of San Fernando.
Dr. Yolanda Lee, chief of clinics; Dr. Nectahr Bonifacio, senior pediatric resident; and Dr. Rex Voltaire Ramos, senior internal medicine resident, all of JBL Regional Memorial Hospital provided the participants with inputs on the dengue virus, pathogenesis of dengue infection, clinical causes of dengue infection, and differential diagnosis and assessment.
Criteria for suspected, probable and confirmed cases of dengue were likewise discussed along with the revised World Health Organization (WHO) dengue classification and development of severity and the management classification of dengue patients.
The event was also attended by Board Members Fritzie David-Dizon, Trina Dizon and Tars Halili and facilitated by Fe Ocampo, PHO officer-in-charge for health education and promotion. (Pampanga PIO)
