Mayor Rivera declares war vs. Dengue

By Ian John M. Lagare

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (01 April 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera has declared war against the deadly mosquito transmitted disease – Dengue.

Dr. Eduardo Sandig, head of the City Health Office (CHO), said that Mayor Rivera ordered the CHO and other related agencies to help prevent the rising number of Dengue cases in the city

The mayor’s order came after he saw last year’s report which posted a 231% increase of recorded cases compared to 2012.

Sandig indicated that under the banner program of “CLEAN GenSan” (Creating a Livable Environment for All Generals towards Nation-building) of Mayor Rivera, the CHO is required to have functional health programs that would mitigate Dengue and other preventable ailments.

As of March 2014, the city has recorded 344 cases of Dengue six of which resulted to deaths.

“Summer is when mosquitoes are very ‘hot’. They are more susceptible to bite people on this period of the year compared to other seasons,” Sandig explained.

Dr. Sandig also boasted that Barangay West, one of the hotspots for Dengue cases, has still zero reported incidents for this year.

“This success was due to the information dissemination drive we give to the constituents of Barangay West. Aside from that, we also intensify the implementation of ‘search and destroy’ operation to demolish possible breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” the doctor said

CHO and other related agencies will be going from barangay-to-barangay in their information dissemination campaign and will proceed to different public schools in the city to educate the people on how to combat Dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

“We are also hopeful that we can bring anti-Dengue programs in the regular Barangayan activities of Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera so that we can inculcate to the people the preventive ways of hampering Dengue,” he added.

In the 2014 budget as indicated in the Executive Legislative Agenda (ELA), the CHO has an allocation of P12 million.

“With the support of Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera, we can ensure our constituents that we will do everything to make GenSan a healthy and conducive place to live,” Dr. Sandig said. (GENSAN CPIO/Ian John M. Lagare)

Villages recognized for breastfeeding practices

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (01 August 2013) - Awards and recognition for the Barangays Establishment for Breastfeeding Practices is led by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera with Dr. Edgardo Sandig of the City Health Office during the Nutrition Month Celebration held at Robinsons Place Tuesday, July 30. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

GenSan malnutrition rate decreases

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (01 August 2013) - “The city’s malnutrition rate is decreasing,” this was the gist of City Nutrition Council action officer Dr. Lalaine Calonzo’s report on the current Nutrition Situation of the City.

 “Based on the 2012 Operation Timbang validated by  National Nutrition Council Region 12, General Santos City ranked no. 7 for the most high prevalence rate of malnutrition comparing to 2011’s ranking which is no. 2. This was assessed among 8 other areas namely Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, Koronadal City, Tacurong City, Kidapawan City and Cotabato City,” she said.

The indicator was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) child growth measurement which is Weight for Age and was conducted thru the mass weighing in the community aptly called “Operation Timbang.”

City Health Office (CHO) chief Dr. Edgardo Sandig also said that from being ranked 3rd in the SoCSKSarGen region last year, GenSan is now number 7.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera also commended the CHO and its chief Dr. Sandig; the Barangay Health Offices, Barangay Nutrition Scholars and Barangay Midwives for being the frontliners in providing health services to the local citizens.

The mayor assured the city and barangay health work force that he, together with Councilor Rosalita Nuñez, chairperson of the City’s Committee on Health Services, will give all out support to future health programs and initiatives of the CHO.

“Health is one of our top three priorities along with Education and Modified Social Services,” according to Rivera.

He added that this is part of his administration’s “Clean GenSan,” campaign which means, “Creating a Livable Environment for All and the Nation in GenSan.”

“We shall not only place good doctors, good health service agents but we will seek to establish confidence from the public to come to our hospital,” added the mayor.

The rehabilitation of public hospitals and the provision of health services for children and adults will be executed under the “Clean GenSan” project. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Michelle Ann Gonzales)