Las Piñas forms antidengue teams

Seeking to arrest the incidence of dengue cases in the city, Las Piñas Mayor Vergel Aguilar has organized cleanup brigades in every barangay (village), which will also conduct an information drive against the killer disease.

Each team is composed of officials of the barangay, health center employees and residents in the area. Aside from ridding the barangay of possible mosquito breeding sites, the team members will also be in charge of providing tips to residents on how to prevent dengue.

While there have been no deaths due to the disease in Las Piñas in the first seven months of the year, dengue cases have ballooned by 165 percent, with 244 confirmed cases in 2011 as compared to 92 last year as shown by Department of Health records.

Aguilar appealed to residents to keep their surroundings clean to prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.

“While we are fortunate that Las Piñas [has been] spared by [a] possible epidemic, we should not be complacent [and implement] all necessary preventive measures,” he said.

At the same time, Aguilar reminded city health officials led by Dr. Esther Oliveros to closely monitor the occurrence of dengue among residents and identify confirmed cases immediately to prevent deaths.

The mayor also urged the health office to install in schools and communities Ovi-Larvi traps which catch and kill mosquitoes while these breed. Fogging operations must also be constantly done to drive away the insects, he added.

Aguilar said residents suffering from dengue could get free treatment from public hospitals in the city by presenting the city government-issued Green Card.

In Valenzuela City, the local government has joined hands with the local Philippine National Red Cross to build up its blood bank facility in Barangay Marulas as a precaution against dengue.

Donations also came from the Rotary Club of Valenzuela Zone 3 RID 3800 which gave blood bank refrigerators, plasma extractors, platelet agitators and microscopes, in addition to a P100,000 cash grant from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Valenzuela.—With a report from Kristine Felisse Mangunay