KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/ 4 October)- At least 12 villagers in in Makilala, North Cotabato have been hospitalized since last week due to the dengue virus, a village official said.
The dengue cases were monitored in Barangay Kisante from the last week of September until this week, said village chief Danilo Dante.
One of the patients, a four-year old boy, had died from dengue fever, he added.
Five of the patients are still being treated in a local hospital while the rest have been discharged, Dante said.
The village chairman’s nephew, Ruben, was among those hospitalized due to dengue virus, he said.
Besides the younger Dante, also down by the dengue virus were Michelle Limbaga, Julius Punay, Daisy Enolva, Ryan Aso Daren, Leah Arombo Daren, Christian Hope Caa, Anamie Caa, Warlito Padian, Redjian Capuyan, and Christine Joy Caa, all residents of Barangay Kisante.
The official blamed the spread of the dengue, a mosquito-borne disease, to a blocked drainage canal located just few meters away from the populace.
Dante told the media here that the number of dengue cases in his village alarmed the local officials.
”Last year, we did not monitor a dengue [case] in our village. So this is quite alarming,” he said.
To arrest the problem, Dante has called on his constituents to do a ‘bayanihan’ or communal unity, which includes the cleaning of stagnant canals and other areas where dengue-causing mosquitoes could thrive.
Dante said the Makilala local government unit, particularly the municipal health office, is supporting the initiative. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)
