Chavit Declares Ilocos Sur under State of Calamity

            Gov. Luis Chavit” Singson declared Ilocos Sur under State of Calamity after dengue cases climbed to over one thousand last week. The number of cases significantly rises over the last two months based on the data from the Provincial Health Team Office. According to the data, there are only 176 dengue cases from January to May but upon entering June, 246 cases were recorded and comes July, 943 cases were reported. There are already 17 cases confirmed on the first week of August.

            The Municipality of Sto. Domingo has the largest number of cases followed by Cabugao and Vigan City. Galimuyod is the only municipality that has zero case. 1,382 cases were already recorded more than 3x of the reported cases last year.

             Here is the complete list of dengue cases per town including the number of mortality as of 2:15 pm August 5:

Mun/City	Cases	Death
Sto. Domingo	171	1
Cabugao	163	3
Vigan City	126
San Juan	116
Bantay	93
Sta. Lucia	82	3
Tagudin	70
Magsingal	63
Sinait	56
Candon City	53
Santiago	44
Sta. Catalina	42
Narvacan	35	1
San Vicente	35
Lidlidda	31
Sta. Cruz	31	1
Caoayan	28
San Ildefonso	28
Sta. Maria	26
Suyo	26
Alilem	8
Santa	8
San Emilio	7
Sugpon	7
Banayoyo	6
Burgos	5
Quirino	5
ken Nagbukel	4
Salcedo	4
San Esteban	4
Cervantes	3
G. Del Pilar	1
Sigay	1
Galimuyod	0
ILOCOS SUR	1382	9

            Singson already allocated funds for the free hospitalization and medicines for all dengue victims.

            “The provincial government will shoulder all the expenses of dengue sufferers provided that they are hospitalized in any of the 8 district hospitals in the province.” The governor said.

            In relation to this, Dr. Gerry Lahoz, the provincial consultant on health concerns invited his provincemates to help save dengue victims by putting their names into the list of possible blood donors and be part of the Walking Blood Bank Project of the provincial government so that they can find possible donors whenever there is a need for blood.

            “This project is better that blood letting because extracted blood has a expiration. With this blood bank concept we will be able to habe a data bank on all the possible donors that will contribute blood not during dengue outbreak but anytime there is a need” Lahoz explained. (Mancielito S. Tacadena)