Every year, Cebuanos struggle with the rise of mosquito populations during the rainy season, which brings about a rise in dengue cases throughout the province.
Dengue is a life threatening disease with symptoms that include high fever, severe headaches, joint pains, nausea, vomiting, rashes and bleeding in the gums or nose. People who have been infected with dengue will be at even greater risk for the more severe strains of the virus with every subsequent infection.
The Dengue Free Philippines Movement, after months of preparation, will launch the 2013 Anti-dengue Larvicide Campaign in Central Visayas from Aug. 17 to Aug. 18 and will continue in quarterly installments to ensure prolonged protection of the identified communities from the virus.
This is a simultaneous activity involving 48 municipalities and nine cities of the province of Cebu; Tagbilaran City, Tubigon, Ubay and Panglao Island in Bohol; Ormoc City of Leyte; cities of Dumaguete, Bayawan and Bais of Negros Oriental and Siquijor province.
The areas targeted for specific treatment are 2,300 school campuses in Central Visayas and all hospitals in Cebu.
Despite the efforts of the government and concerned groups, the Dengue Free Philippines Movement will not succeed without the assistance of the Cebuano community.
The movement is asking the community to volunteer for this project and help identify areas that have stagnant pools of water where the larvicide chemicals can be applied to eradicate mosquitoes.
The project organizers will use a World Health Organization-recommended chemical larvicide that kills mosquito larvae in stagnant pools of water and controls the population of dengue carrying mosquitoes at the source.
All Rotary clubs in Cebu, under the leadership of Rotary District 3860 are supporting the Dengue Free Philippines Movement. It is also supported by the Cebu Medical Society and 40 civic organizations like the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
This project aims to make Cebu a dengue-free community.
In the Philippines, where there are so many indigent people who are exposed to the disease on a daily basis, projects like this that are planned by the private organizations in cooperation with the local government, are necessary and life-saving.
Those who want to volunteer may call the Rotary Club of Cebu at 2537365 or the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce Secretariat at 4202252.