The Eastern Samar Community Blog

City of Borongan. – In a meeting with barangay health workers (BHWs) called by the City Health Officer Dr. Daisy G. Sacmar last September 27, 2007 at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall, a representative from the Provincial Malaria Control Office reported that from July to September 2007 there have already been 202 suspected cases of dengue that has been recorded by their office. The said reports have been collated from various sources such as hospitals, health centers, health units and other health institutions within the province of Eastern Samar.

Mrs. Gina Marasigan, the Provincial Malaria Control Office in-charge for the dengue fever concern and whose two children have been victims of the dengue fever, told the gathered barangay health workers that of the 202 cases 44 are from Borongan, mostly from Barangay Songco. Cases originating from the Eugenio S. Daza Pilot Elementary School (ESDPES) have also been reported.

However records shows that Guiuan has the most number of cases. Sixty percent of these cases have affected persons within the 5 to 14 years old range while 25% are within the 15 to 45 years old bracket.

“Before the most common victims are children from 0 to 9 years old,” added Mrs. Marasigan. “Now it seems the victims are getting older.”

Aside from Guiuan, Borongan and Salcedo the other municipalities that are among the places considered having a dengue fever outbreak because of the number of suspected cases reported is Dolores in the north and Lawaan in the appendix (southwest portion of the province).

Municipalities considered to be hotspots are Balangiga, Giporlos and Quinapondan. Can-avid and Taft are somehow considered to be affected under the clustering code like that of Mercedes with Guiuan. The other municipalities have no reported cases.

Mrs. Marasigan emphasized however that the above cases are those which are “recorded” only. She said that actual numbers might be higher. She said that the method of gathering a dengue data base is not yet systematic and that they need the help of those in the forefront of health services such as rural health units in order to give a more efficient reporting and recording of the disease.

One thing that could be the cause of lack of proper reporting or underreporting is the absence of the right information about the dengue fever. Many might think the symptoms which manifest among victims are only signs of the usual fever. Hence she requested the barangay health workers to really disseminate the proper information about the illness.

“The usual period of continuous fever is from 3 to 5 days before bleeding is experienced. But why wait for the danger signs, if you have a victim in your home, bring them at once to the clinic, health center or better yet to the hospital,” she said. With two children affected by the dengue fever she knows what she was saying. She added that P 10,000.00 is not enough for a single dengue disease victim.

But she emphasized that the problem is not unsolvable. She discussed that the best thing that could end the problem about dengue mosquitoes is cleanliness, especially by assuring that no possible breeding place for mosquitoes be taken for granted such as flower vases, empty cans, bottles and plastic containers that could hold water, tires on roofs, and others.

“And the whole community must unite in this effort because if only one area of the community will clean, then mosquitoes will just go to the areas where they could breed and the whole community will still be open to a possible outbreak,” she noted.

Aside from cleanliness, Mrs. Marasigan shared that the cheapest medicine to the containment of the dengue illness is a common weed that can be found in almost every uncultivated space in the locality.

“It is called ‘gatas-gatas’ and it was prescribed to me by a nun at the St. Paul’s Hospital in Tacloban where I brought my first child to be affected by the disease,” she said. She added that when another one of her children got infected by the illness she remembered at once that weed, had some taken from Baybay Boulevard in front of the Nativity of Our Lady College Seminary (NOLCS) and gave it to her child and the child got better. She further shared that in preparing the concoction for dengue one should first wash the whole plant from the roots to its flowers and then boil it in water until coloration takes place. For little children the one preparing it must put some sugar because it tastes bland.

Some midwives present went down to get a sample of the plant and showed it to the BHWs who does not seem to recognize the weed. When it was shown them they remembered seeing it but have not known what it is called. Mrs. Marasigan told them that ‘gatas-gatas’ was being used to cure fever before the introduction of pharmaceutical drugs.

She also informed the BHWs that during the meeting of the punong barangays last September 20 she has already discussed the same information and updates regarding the dengue fever for them to disseminate to their respective barangays. However when asked if the officials have already complied with the request the common response was “Waray pa.”

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