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CEBU CITY, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has declared a “continuing state of calamity” due to increasing dengue cases in the city.
Councilor Gerardo Carillo, chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council, said they need the declaration to make funding available “to respond to the (continuing rise in) dengue cases.”
The City Health Office reported a total of 143 dengue cases and eight deaths in January 2008 compared to the 85 cases and two deaths over the same period last year.
Carillo said the “increasing (dengue-related) deaths draw an alarming picture” that the city government should address.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama said this year's dengue cases may surpass last year's 1,800 cases and 50 deaths.
Health officials had told the City Council that dengue cases peak in December.
But report presented by Carillo to the City Council showed that dengue cases continued to rise even during off-peak months, said Rama.
Dengue cases have been rising since October last year when the City Council declared a state of calamity to facilitate the release of P5 million to purchase fluids, reagents and other medicines.
The city government also set up dengue lanes at barangay health centers. At the Cebu City Medical Center, patients suspected with dengue can avail of free check up.
Rama said the weekly report that Carillo presented to the council “tells us that there is calamity with respect to dengue.”
