BAGUIO CITY – The City Health Services Office (CHSO) is recommending to the city government and the education department the possible suspension of wearing of skirt uniforms by female elementary and secondary students as one of the preventive measures to abate the tremendous increase in dengue fever cases in the city during the rainy season.
Dr. Donnabel Tubera, infectious cluster head of CHSO, said the wearing of skirts by female elementary and secondary students attending classes in the different public and private schools in the city is a potential risk of them being bitten by the dengue carrying aedes mosquito that may pose a serious threat to their health condition.
Earlier, she reported dengue fever cases in the city increased by 24 percent from January 1 to July 29 this year with 280 reported cases compared to the 220 cases during the same period last year.
Further, there was one dengue-related death this year compared to the zero dengue-related death during the same period last year.
The medical officer advised female students to refrain from wearing the thin leggings because the dengue carrying mosquito can bite through the thin cloth, thus, females should wear thick pants, socks and long sleeved clothes so that the bite of the mosquitoes will not penetrate the same.
According to her, proper coordination is being done by health authorities with the concerned education and city officials for the issuance of the required advisory temporarily suspending the wearing of skirt uniforms among female students as part of the preventive measures taken to abate the continuous increase in dengue cases in the different parts of the city.
Tubera forewarned the public on the expected increase in the dengue cases in the city, especially during the rainy season, and residents should adhere to the advise of health authorities for them to search and destroy the breeding ground of the aedes mosquito on clear and stagnant water, seek early medical attention for fever that lasts for at least 2 days, secure oneself by keeping themselves healthy and support misting activities to drive away the dengue carrying mosquito in their places.
She urged residents experiencing fever for 2 days to immediately visit the nearest district health center to avail of the free dengue test for people interested to avail of such service for them to be provided with the appropriate medical attention.
Tubera also reported that only 5 percent of those being diagnosed for dengue fever in the city are hospitalised thus it is still best for everyone to seek early consultation for any illness for early detection of any illness will translate to early recovery.
By Dexter A. See