Dengue alert in schools up

LEGAZPI CITY--- The Department of Education (DepEd) regional office here is implementing Preventive Alert System in Schools (PASS) to easily detect possible dengue cases in schools.

Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad, DepEd Bicol in a press conference earlier this week, said it is necessary to strengthen the implementation of extensive campaign to address the increasing number of dengue cases in Bicol.

“PASS is one way of strategy that involves cooperation between public schools, parent-teacher associations, local governments and health centers, it is a systematic relay of information on a child’s or teacher’s state of health to proper medical authorities and or agencies in the locality.” Sadsad said.

The director added that under PASS, learners will observe the well-being of their own classmates and if someone among them is not feeling well or has colds, cough and feverish, the sick learner will be reported to the teacher for validation.

Early morning, health inspection shall be conducted routinely by the teacher to detect the presence of fever and other signs and symptoms of infection. The teacher shall keenly observe the health status of each learner in the classroom. If she/he finds out that a child is sick, the case will be reported immediately to the principal.

The principal shall notify the family/guardian of the child sick. The feverish person shall be immediately referred to the school physician for evaluation.

The illness of the student, teacher, or other school employees should be closely followed up by the health personnel.

Sadsad added that school principals are expected to take the lead in operationalizing the PASS and to relay relevant information to the schools division superintendent and such information be likewise relayed to the Office of the Education Support Service Division.

Dr. Israel Parra, DepEd Bicol Medical officer reminded his counterparts to intensely monitor the increasing number of cases in schools and do all possible preventive and control measures including the 4S strategy (Search and destroy, Secure self-protection, Seek early consultation and Support fogging, misting during impending outbreak.)

“It is important to keep all the learners well-informed on how to protect themselves from dengue. “ he added. Parra also directed all school divisions in the region to submit report of learners with dengue in all public schools to closely monitor the situation.

The extensive anti-dengue campaign of DepEd Bicol started early as April with a memorandum directed all schools and offices in the region to conduct massive information campaign and maintain environmental sanitation in schools and in the communities through the implementation of Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD) and the 4o’clock habit.

Based on the data of the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol dengue incidence in the region has reached an alarming level with a total of 3,631 cases and 37 deaths from January 1 to July 27 this year.

Camarines Sur had the highest number of cases with 1,433; followed by Albay with 679; Sorsogon, 653; Catanduanes, 485; Masbate, 242; Camarines Norte, 135; and others (visitors), 4 cases.