Earlier, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) of North Cotabato reported a similar increase in cases this year — from 257 cases in the first two quarters last year to a sudden jump to 954 cases during the same two quarters this year.
Emelinda Diesto, provincial sanitary inspector, said that one each from the towns of Carmen and Banisilan died of dengue during the first quarters this year. But the whole year last year, there were six fatalities.
“My heart bleeds to see children suffering from ailments. The sight brings back unimaginable pain when I lost my precious daughter due to blood related illness four years ago,” Taynan said in his privilege speech during the council’s last regular session.
He said the dengue issue in Kidapawan City is alarming that needs to be addressed very urgently.
He urged Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco to immediately allocate budget for the city’s dengue prevention campaign.
Diesto, on the other hand, said that all but one of the province’s 17 municipalities have reported dengue cases — Makilala, 137; Matalam, 53; Antipas, 51; Mlang, 48; Banisilan, 42; Pigcawayan, 39; Pikit, 37; Midsayap, 31; Kabacan, 26; Arakan, 11; Magpet, 18; President Roxas, 16; Tulunan, 13; Carmen and Alamada, 9 cases each; and Aleosan, 3 cases.
The IPHO has appealed to local government units to strengthen their information drive.
Diesto said information dissemination regarding dengue could help educate the constituents to halt the spread of dengue.
But the IPHO believes the number of dengue cases is yet to rise because of the rains.