Support for national clean-up drive vs dengue mounts

THE CORDILLERA Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) calls for convergence in the conduct of a regionwide clean – up drive of dengue mosquito sites. in support to the Department of Health’s declaration of National Dengue Epidemic.

CRDRRMC Chair and Office of Civil Defense – Cordillera Regional Director Albert Mogol, in a memorandum enjoined all council member agencies and local DRRM councils to actively participate in the DOH’s nationwide campaign for simultaneous search and destroy of mosquito breeding sites.

Mogol also called for community support in cleaning up their surroundings highlighting the importance of convergence in ensuring a disaster -resilient and healthy Cordillera.

CRDRRMC, in response to the July 15 DOH's National Dengue alert declaration, had convened a Regional Task Group for the surveillance, mitigation and counter measures in reducing dengue cases incidence in the region.

On August 6, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III declared a National Dengue Epidemic in the country with dengue cases reaching 146,062 with 622 deaths from January to July this year, a 98 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Duque said the DOH declaration will help in identifying where a localized response is needed and to enable the local government units to use their quick response fund to address the problem.

With the national epidemic declaration, DOH launched the “Sabayang 4 O’Clock Habit para Deng-Get Out” that calls for a nationwide, simultaneous clean – up drive against dengue.

For dengue update in Cordillera, DOH – CAR record shows 3,944 dengue cases with nine deaths from January 1 to July 27, a 19 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

DOH – CAR Family Health Cluster Head Dr. Anachris Kilakil said dengue cases in Cordillera though high, are not on the alert threshold yet. But with the increasing cases especailly this rainy season, she stressed on the need for continuous cleaning of breeding sites so that without the vector

(Dengue mosquito), there will be no transmission of the disease.

Kilakil reiterated the “4S” campaign against Dengue which include “Search and Destroy”, “Self – protection”, Seek early consultation”, and “Support spraying/fogging in the community if there is an increasing cases or impending outbreak”.