Cardinal Vidal urges faithful to pray and seek divine intervention vs dengue
Aug 21, 2005
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, apparently alarmed by the rising cases of dengue, has called on the faithful to pray and seek divine intervention against the deadly, mosquitoborne disease.
(The Manila Bulletin, August 12, 2005) CEBU CITY — Archdiocesan spokesman Monsignor Achilles Dakay said the prelate, noting the dengue alarm, issued a circular that orders all parishes to pray for divine action against the disease.
He confirmed that Vidal had called for penitential processions and prayers to be offered to combat the spread of dengue after he celebrated a pontifical mass at the Poor Clares monastery in Tayud, Liloan.
The last time the archdiocese called for prayers against a disease was a couple of years back when the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) scare hit the country.
The tradition of the mandatory prayer dates back to the 17th century when the spread of a cholera epidemic was stopped as Cebuanos paraded and prayed before the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The appeal for prayer against dengue by Cardinal Vidal came as the number of dengue cases in the country reaches an alarming level.
In Cebu City alone, at least 546 people have been downed by dengue with at least 16 lives claimed.
But the Region 7 director of the Department of Health (DoH) clarified yesterday that there is still no dengue outbreak in any part of Central Visayas despite the increase in the number of people affected.
During a meeting with provincial and city health officers, Regional Health Director Susana Madarieta reported that the DoH had found out that there is really an increase in dengue cases but said that it is a usual occurrence especially during the rainy season.
Despite this statement, the Cebu City council unanimously approved a resolution declaring the entire city under the state-of-calamity due to the rising number of children and individuals affected by the mosquito-borne disease.
The resolution, authored by Councilors Gerardo Carillo and Christopher Alix, states "a declaration is deemed to be necessary for the release of calamity funds to augment local funds that will be used for the purchase of the necessary equipment and supplies as well as to fund for the preventive efforts the city needs to undertake."
The DoH advised health workers nationwide to be prepared for a possible dengue outbreak, noting that dengue cases in the past six months have rapidly increased.
Records at the National Epidemiology Center show that there are at least 5,396 dengue cases and 77 deaths in the country from January to July this year.
This represents a 41 percent increase from the 3,840 cases recorded for the same period last year.
Cardinal Vidal urges faithful to pray and seek divine intervention vs dengue