By Erica Angel Mondayl, Christnel Angel Olo, Ellyza Salvador/UM Interns
THE CITY Health Office (CHO) urged barangays in Davao City to form a Mosquito-Borne Viral Disease Task Force to address the rising number of dengue cases.
During the iSpeak media forum on April 18, Melodina Babante, head of the CHO-Tropical Division, said they already recorded 1,140 confirmed cases with eight mortalities in the city from January to the first week of April this year.
Among the 11 districts, Bunawan, Talomo Proper, Buhangin, and Tugbok have reported deaths due to dengue. Of the total, three came from Bunawan, making it the CHO’s top area of concern.
As an initiative, the CHO intensifies the implementation of the City Ordinance 0401-20 Section 8, which mandates the creation of a “Barangay Mosquito-Borne Task Force,” since its community is responsible for preventing and controlling dengue.
Babante highlighted the importance of the participation of all 182 barangays in activating and creating a task force.
“Ang role sa task force, dako kaayo didto sa ilang barangay kay sila ang una-unang magplano kung unsaon nila pagpababa sa kaso sa dengue (The task force’s role is crucial since it’s the first to lay down the policy on how to reduce dengue cases),” Babante said.
Presently, only 32 of 182 barangays in Davao City have their own mosquito-borne task forces.
Babante specifically commended barangay Buhangin for its active implementation of the ordinance. She also explained that the changing of officials last elections was a contributing factor to the non-compliance of some barangays in the city.
“Last October, nagpatawag ang City Health Office sa mga barangay captains and kagawads regarding sa implementation ani na ordinance sa dengue. But unfortunately… nag barangay election, so yung mga barangay captains na iba… nawala na,” she added.
Sec. 18 of City Ordinance 0401-20 said non-compliance would result in a citation ticket to the barangay.
Moreover, the CHO will coordinate with the Barangay and Cultural Communities Affairs Division to further strengthen enforcement.
