Parishes urged to join dengue fight

The church’s health care ministry urged parishes to do their share to prevent the spread of dengue fever amid an increasing incidence of the illness across the country.

The bishops’ Episcopal Commission on Health Care (ECHC) said one thing parishes can do is help destroy the breeding grounds of these mosquitoes.

Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio, ECHC member, said that dengue could not be eradicated until everyone will work to ensure the surroundings are clean and apply ways to do it.

“Let us clean our surroundings… this includes the holy water containers in churches,” Bishop Florencio said.

The Department of Health has declared a nationwide alert on July 15 after a spike in dengue cases in several regions trigger warnings of a possible epidemic.

The agency said that from Jan. 1 to June 29, 2019, 106,630 dengue cases had been reported nationwide – 85 percent more than the 57,564 cases reported over the same period last year.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, however, stressed that there was no national epidemic as dengue cases are localized.

“I am just alarmed in the outbreak of dengue. But though there was no national alarm yet we should not be indifferent either,” Bishop Florencio said.

“What the church can do is to tell people that virals like this will not spread if we join our efforts together,” he added.

The prelate also reminded the people of their responsibility to keep their compounds and surrounding areas clean.

“The point is we help in whatever way we can whenever we are needed,” he said.