Free dengue tests available in 7 barangay health centers

SEVEN barangay health centers in Cebu City now have satellite laboratories  that conduct  free dengue diagnostic tests.

Starting  October 1, medical technologists are available to do free complete blood count (CBC) tests in Talamban, Mabolo, Barrio Luz, Parian, Pardo, Punta Princesa and Guadalupe from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays.

The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is also making available an ambulance that can serve as a mobile laboratory for the conduct of a complete blood count (CBC) test.

Councilor Dave Tumulak said barangays  can request for the  ambulance to  go to their area for  diagnostic tests.

Residents can also go to the  nearest barangay with a satellite laboratory for a  free CBC test.

In Tisa, nurse Merlin Ramones said they can offer only paracetamol tablets to suspected dengue patients.

If the disease progresses, the patient is referred to the Punta Princesa Health Center or to CCMC for a CBC test.

Dr. Daisy Villa, officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Health Department (CHD), said satellite laboratories were set up in seven barangays to decongest the government-owned Cebu City Medical Center.

“After office hours, we will do the tests in our EMS (Emergency Medical Service at the CCMC),” she said.

The Cebu City government stepped up efforts to combat the mosquito-borne disease following the 9-percent increase in dengue cases to 831 as of September this year compared to 763 cases for the same period last year.

A  larvicidal campaign will be conducted on Sunday, October 4 in 49 urban barangays in the city.

All regular and casual city government employees, as well as job order employees and volunteers, have been directed to join  the campaign.

DAANBANTAYAN

In Daanbantayan town, where a 5-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl died of dengue last month, the municipal council passed a resolution yesterday authorizing Mayor Augusto Corro to buy five misting equipment and medicines for dengue.

The money will be taken from the town’s P4-million calamity fund. Up to 70 percent of the fund may be used to purchase the equipment and medicines, Daanbantayan Vice Mayor Gilbert Arrabis said.

The council, however, did not declare a state of calamaity which was recommended by the municipal disaster risk reduction council.

Arrabis said they didn’t want to cause  panic among the residents. Most of the councilors were not convinced that teh town had a  dengue outbreak.

From January to September this year, the town  recorded 66 dengue cases. Municipal health officer Dr. Merle Visda declared an outbreak because 18 new cases were logged in just four days.

Arrabis said the council urged  all residents in the town’s 20 barangays and two island-barangays, Malapascua and Carnasa, to clean their surroundings daily and destroy all possible breeding places of mosquitoes.

A six-man team from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) went to Daanbantayan town yesterday to conduct misting operations and remind  residents of the 4 p.m. habit to clean their surroundings.

A clean-up drive will be conducted in barangay Poblacion today.

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, particularly the Aedes aegypti. Symptoms include fever, headache and pain the stomach and joints.