DAGUPAN CITY – The city was chosen as the Best City in Region 1 in the Implementation of Infectious Diseases Program for 2017.
This was disclosed by City Health Officer Dr. Ophelia T. Rivera who said Dagupan was also 3rd runner-up in the FLAME Award during the Pammadayaw ti DOH 2017 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Convention Hall in San Fernando City, La Union on December 14.
Rivera disclosed that the Plaque of Recognition of Dagupan as the Best City in the Implementation of Infectious Diseases was in recognition of the city’s various programs against infectious diseases like dengue, the conduct of UBO patrol, rabies prevention and control programs and HIV/AIDS.
Under the Alagang Balon Dagupan program of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, the city established hotlines for anti-dengue and UBO Patrol to enhance the city’s campaign and likewise established a dengue and anti-TB alerts especially in the barangays. These hotlines are open for text messages from patients and their relatives who cannot manage to go to the facility for check-up.
On the anti-dengue campaign, the city conducted continuous information campaign through distribution of leaflets and posting of tarpaulins; intensified campaign on ”Tanggal gulong sa bubong at silong”; misting operations; larvicidal treatment and lectures.
Flooded areas or sitios with stagnant waters are filled with sand under Fernandez’es Operation Sitio program to destroy breeding areas for mosquitoes.
As a result, cases of dengue in the city for 2017 decreased as compared to 2016.
UBO patrol is a new project which caters to those with cough lasting two weeks or more.
UBO patrollers like Barangay Nurses, midwives and Barangay Health Workers undertook house to house visit to identify patients with cough of two weeks or more. They are assessed and referred to the CHO for sputum examination and treatment.
A text hotline was also put in place to accommodate text messages regarding cough. They can text the name and address of the person who has cough. The UBO patrollers will then visit these people, assess them and make the necessary referrals as needed.
The city also implemented an extensive anti-rabies campaign and control program where the city augmented vaccines from the Department of Health (DOH) to lessen catastrophic costs to patients; conducted counseling and HIV testing to LGBT community, pregnant mothers, TB patients, CSWs and inmates at the city jail. These programs are conducted yearly by the city health office.
Barangay nurses were deployed to assess patients in their respective houses and refer identified cases to physicians for proper evaluation and management.
These efforts being undertaken by the city in reaching all the Dagupeños “paved the way in the effective delivery of health services in the community” said Rivera.
The FLAME Award, on the other hand, was in recognition of the city government’s contributions and dynamic strategies in implementing health reforms towards the attainment of Universal Health Care.
From among the five contenders like the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Dagupan City, the city was adjudged 3rd runner up.
Soon the city will open its Laboratory Diagnostic Center and Lying-In clinic with a 5-10 bed capacity. The center will also provide free ECG, x-ray and ultrasound services.
In receiving the award, Rivera thanked Fernandez for her Unliserbisyo for a healthier Dagupan, the barangay officials and health volunteers.
“May you continue to have the zest to provide quality health service to the people of Dagupan!” said Rivera. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Dec. 15, 2017)