Blood donation drive to highlight ‘Dengue Day’ in Iloilo

• Source:https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1023095
• Sunday, June 16, 2019

By Leonard T. Pineda, I

ILOILO CITY (PIA6) – The city government here, through the City Health Office, in partnership with the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD)-6, commemorates “Dengue Day” today, June 14, 2019, at the Diamond Jubilee Hall here.

Maria Lourdes Monegro, DOH-CHD 6 Regional Entomologist, said the blood donation drive is one of the highlights of the event which is in line with the ASEAN Dengue Day held every June 15.

“This blood donation drive is facilitated by the Philippine Red Cross,” she said.

She said this advocacy event aims to increase public awareness of dengue; to mobilize resources for its prevention and control; and to demonstrate the commitment of ASEAN in to tackling the disease.

The conduct of such advocacy event was agreed upon during the 10th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting in Singapore in 2010, according to DOH-CHD-6.

The event started with a motorcade in major thoroughfares in the city and a program held at the Diamond Jubilee Hall.

“Booths and kiosks are established in the venue that will promote the advocacy to further raise public awareness on dengue,” she said.

Meanwhile, data from DOH-CHD 6 showed that a total of 8,613 dengue cases were recorded in Western Visayas, from January 1 to June 1, 2019.

Monegro said these cases reflect an increase of 198 percent compared to the cases recorded in the same period last year.

According to DOH-6, Aklan recorded 1,019 cases; Antique - 285; Capiz - 1,245; Guimaras - 187; Iloilo Province - 2,516; Iloilo City - 557; Negros Occidental - 2,277; and Bacolod City with 433 cases. (JBG/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)