LGUs told to be pro-active in drive vs dengue

To signal the government’s intensified campaign against dengue, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday marked the annual Asean Dengue Day in Cebu City by promoting the “4 o’ clock” habit.

“While dengue cases are prevalent during the rainy season of July to October, it is ironic that dengue remains a threat during summer,” Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona told reporters.

He said the annual celebration of Asean Dengue Day every June 15 was declared during the Asean Health Ministers Meeting held in Singapore last July 22, 2010.

Ona said the Asean Dengue Day demonstrates a shift from reactionary strategies to forward planning and long-term prevention strategies.

He said they launched the “4 o’clock habit” as a simple practical countermeasure to reduce mosquito density to a level that makes dengue transmission manageable.

Asst. Health Secretary Eric Tayag said this consists of assigning teams to “search and destroy” mosquito-breeding sites and reminding local officials and community leaders to sustain this campaign on a daily basis.

The DOH chose Cebu City as its venue for the country’s celebration of Asean Dengue Day after it reduced its dengue cases to 23 percent this year.

Cebu City Health Officer Dr. Estella Ygonia said their surveillance units monitor the hospitals and clear the city of dengue breeding grounds.

In the province, there were five deaths out of 1,700 reported dengue cases.

Yesterday’s Asean Dengue Day observance ended with Tayag dancing the official jingle for Asean Dengue Day and a public showing of the music video featuring Tayag performing with the Cebu “dancing inmates.”