LUBAO –- The provincial government headed by Governor Lilia Nanay Pineda on Tuesday urged all barangay chiefs of the 505 barangays to perform a clean-up drive in their neighborhood.
This was gleaned during a visit made by Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council head Angelina Blanco, Provincial Health Officer 3 Dr. Marcelo Jaochico, Provincial Social Welfare and Development head Elizabeth Baybayan and Solid Waste Management Officer Jason Sambat in barangays Sta.Cruz and Lourdes, this town, where dengue cases were reportedly rising.
Angelina Blanco during the visit, said that the dengue carrier emanated from a junk shop in barangay Sta. Cruz while a man-made canal and stagnant water caused the virus in Sitio Lourdes.
“We advised them to cover exposed bottles and keep their canals clean and free from stagnant water where mosquitoes love to lay their eggs”, Blanco said.
According to Sta. Cruz’s barangay captain Bernie Macapagal Pineda that “fifty-percent of the dengue patients come from their barangay.”
Provincial Health Officer 3 Dr. Marcelo Jaochico, however, directed barangay and school officials to monitor the body temperature of the pupils before dismissal of classes and refer immediately to district hospitals those identified with fever.
“Nanay Gob wants free hospitalization to all dengue patients confined to government hospitals. She also offered assistance to dengue patients that need to be transferred to private hospitals, should there be a shortage of hospital supplies from government hospitals”, Jaochico stated.
Governor Pineda also assured the public that the provincial government is prepared and effecting preventive measures to combat the deadly virus.
As of press time, no dengue outbreak has been reported, although some barangays have clustered dengue cases in Lubao, Macabebe, Guagua, San Fernando, Sta. Ana, Mexico, Candaba, Floridablanca, Magalang, Masantol, Porac, San Luis, San Simon and Sta. Rita.
Recently, the Provincial Health Office has recorded a total of 3,252 dengue cases a 68% higher compared from the same period last year of 1,934 documented cases.
BY MARIBEL U. SINGCA
