By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .
A barangay official worries over the campaign against dengue through fogging machine operation considering that the City Health Office has only two units of fogging machines to serve the entire city.
Bugo barangay chairman Vic Talingting, Sr. said despite city-wide campaign on against dengue, the number of dengue cases in their barangay is still rising which have made them decide to buy their own fogging machine.
“For immediate concern, Barangay Bugo is set to buy one fogging machine to localize its effort against dengue. Pero ang naka-daut kay dili kami maka-palit kung walay clearance sa Department of Health,” he said.
He said they cannot ask help from the City Health Office for possible fogging operation because the city has only two units available that would serve the 80 urban and rural barangays.
“Mo-abot sa duha kabulan kapin kung mag-hulat kami and then we belong to top 10 barangays nga dunay pinakataas nga dengue cases. Dili na kami maka-hulat kung ingon ani ang sitwasyon,” he added.
Earlier, DOH-10 assistant regional director Dr. David Mendoza, head of the regional epidemiology, surveillance and disaster response unit, said the province of Bukidnon still topped the list of affected areas in Region 10.
The DOH-10 released the top five provinces, including the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, with the most dengue cases reported.
Cagayan de Oro has 1,978 cases reported this time among children of middle-class families. Iligan City has 1,129 cases.
Talingting said local barangay officials opted to have their own fogging machines to help the city but their operation would be concentrated on their barangay.
“Dapat na gyud mo-declare under state of calamity ang entire city kay hapit na gyud kini ma-consider as outbreak in the entire city,” he said.
He said a fogging machine reportedly costs P200 thousand and the barangay has its own funds for the acquisition. The CHO has already given its go signal for outdoor fogging operation.
Barangay Bugo belongs to other nine barangays in the city that is monitored to have a high number of dengue cases with Canitoan, Lumbia, Balulang, Lapasan, Patag, Iponan, Bulua, Macabalan, and Macasandig.
“Even Del Monte Philippines is willing to buy its own fogging machines to help Barangay Bugo,” he added.
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