Aedes aegypti mosquito, carrier of the dengue virus. FILE PHOTO
The Department of Health (DOH) has stressed the importance of using the 4S Strategy in checking the number of dengue cases in the country.
“Dengue is everyone’s concern. I call on all Filipinos to make 4S a part of our daily routine in order to achieve the highest level of prevention and control against dengue,” DOH Secretary Francisco Duque said on Thursday during a program at Puerto Princesa, Palawan for the 8th Asean Dengue Day.
According to DOH, the 4S strategy involves searching and destroying mosquito breeding places; securing self-protection; seeking early consultation; and supporting fogging and spraying in hotspot places.
“Our goal to prevent dengue starts within ourselves by maintaining cleanliness in our surroundings by emptying containers of stagnant waters to eliminate breeding places of Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes,” Duque added.
The DOH said dengue cases in the country dropped by seven percent, from 40,993 in 2017 to 37,959 in the same period of 2018. Males with ages from 10 to 14 were the most affected, comprising 52 percent of the total cases.
For this year’s event, the DOH held several activities, such as a scientific forum about the disease, a poster making contest for school children, and the ASEAN Dengue Walk for the Search and Destroy of mosquito breeding areas.
Duque’s visit also highlighted the inspection of fast lanes for dengue victims, especially those vaccinated with the dengue vaccine.
DOH has been rocked by controversies surrounding the national anti-dengue vaccination program, after government allegedly hastily procured Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccines from Sanofi Pasteur.
The Public Attorney’s Office has filed several cases against former DOH officials, including Duque, while claiming that the health secretary had a hand in the dissemination of the anti-dengue vaccine. /muf