Dengue Alert

SINCE THE beginning of the year, 17 people in Cebu City have died of dengue.

They were among 676 residents who got sick of the mosquito-borne disease from Jan. 1 to Aug. 15, according to the City Health Department.

Of the city’s 80 barangays, barangay Kamputhaw has the most number of dengue cases at 55, with two deaths.

But in proportion to a barangay’s population, barangay Talamban has the highest rate of infection at 35 for a population of 11,781 – an infection percentage of 0.297 percent.

Barangay Luz ranks third in infection percentage at 0.285, with 30 cases among its 10,510 residents, with no deaths.

In terms of percentage, Kamputhaw came in third. With a population of 22,492 and 55 reported case, its infection percentage is 0.244.

Dengue cases from Jan. 1 to Aug. 15 were 24.7 percent lower compared to the same period last year at 898 cases and 37 deaths.

The number didn’t satisfy Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who said it was his wish that no one would die from dengue.

The mayor earlier criticized the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), where some dengue-related deaths occurred due to delayed or wrong diagnosis.

But opposition leader Jonathan Guardo said the problem with the CCMC is not with its staff, but due to the failure of City Hall to invest.

He said Osmeña should stop blaming doctors and start investing more on health services, especially the CCMC.

While Osmeña wants to sell CCMC to a private investor or close it down, Guardo said such a move would be “anti-poor” because the poor could not afford to go to a private hospital.

“ Without the CCMC, we will have more casualties,” said Guardo, who has plans to run for south district congressman.

“Staffing is undermanned and facilities and medicines inadequate. Quite obviously, there is underinvestment for the hospital,” Guardo said.

Guardo also criticized the mayor for giving out “financial assistance” to the city’s senior citizens.

He said these “dole-outs” may be part of the mayor’s plan to also run for Congress in the south district, pitting both men against each other in the 2010 elections.

If the city were serious in helping the the elderly and people with disabilities, Guardo said City Hall should do it in the form of financial assistance.

Guardo said that cash handouts would only help in the short term, but livelihood programs would be sustainable.

He also questioned why the mayor would only give these assistances to registered voters. This, Guardo said, was a sign of “politicking,” as there are many elderly who are bedridden and are incapable of renewing their voting registration. /Reporter Marian Codilla and Correspondent Chris A. Ligan