The Iloilo Provincial Government has started preparing for the looming surge in dengue cases.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the provincial and district hospitals are ready to provide dengue patients with medical care and treatment.

As of June 1, there are 12 dengue patients admitted in district hospitals and eight in the provincial hospital.

Defensor said the hospitals have been ordered to increase their bed occupancy and capacitate rural health units (RHUs) if the number will continue to increase.

Also part of the preparations is the implementation of referral system to provide patients with faster and more efficient medical services.

“In case gid man nga magdamo ang kaso naton we are ready to mobilize our beds in our Ligtas COVID-19 facilities to augment sa mga hospital,” Defensor said in an interview on IMT Conversations.

The governor noted that the provincial government has an existing agreement with tertiary hospitals in Iloilo City.

“We are ready to work with them as far as resources sharing in case need naton magrefer sang mga pasyente naton sa ila,” he said.

Despite the proactive measures undertaken by the provincial government, dengue cases in the province still rose.

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) recorded 322 dengue cases from January 1 to May 28 this year, higher by 101 percent comapred to 160 cases in the same period a year ago.

Last March, Defensor issued an executive order placing Iloilo under “Alert Level 5 Kontra Dengue.”

Through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), the provincial government tapped KALIPI, a women’s organization, for the conduct of a massive clean-up drive against the dengue fever outbreak.

It also enjoined all barangays in the program dubbed “Women-led Province-wide Limpyo Iloilo Kontra Dengue.”

Defensor also issued Executive Order No. 271 last month, implementing the “Limpyo sa Hunyo 2022: Panglimyo Para sa Dengue Kag Baha” in the province.

“Together with convergence partners, the province will have an intensified implementation of the 5S strategy against dengue,” Defensor said in a statement.

The 5S strategy stands for search and destroy of mosquito breeding sites, securing self-protection, seeking early consultation, supporting fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas, and observance of safety and health protocols.”IMT