Anti-dengue drive expected to yield good results

MAYOR Celso Lobregat hoped that dengue cases will slide down and return to normal level in the days to come following the conduct of massive and simultaneous clean-up drives and other anti-dengue efforts in the past weeks in Zamboanga City.

The City Government together with other concerned agencies spearheaded intensified clean up drives and other initiatives to search and destroy breeding grounds of dengue-carrying mosquitoes since the declaration of a dengue outbreak in Zamboanga City last May 10.

“The effect of the search and destroy efforts will not be felt the same week it was launched but it will take several weeks,” Lobregat stressed, as he urged all sectors anew to unite in the effort to fight against dengue disease.

For the entire month of May, cases of dengue soared to 461 which is double the number of cases registered in April.

From June 1 to 12, the number of cases registered is 99.

Since January 1 to June 12, the death toll is 14 – one of which died in January, two in February, three in March, three in April and five in May.

The fatalities were children below 12 years old and were residents of Manicahan, Putik, Maasin, Recodo, San Roque, Governor Ramos, Putik, Tugbungan, Mampang, Limpapa and Tumaga.

“We expect an effect for the efforts in June but we cannot be complacent,” Lobregat emphasized.

He reiterated that the campaign to rid the surroundings of dengue–carrying mosquitoes is for each and every individual household to do their part in maintaining cleanliness and sanitation.

He emphasized that the city government, village officials and other concerned agencies can only spearhead or guide in the conduct of the different strategies but the sustained implementation of the same remains to be the responsibility and obligation of the individual households.

The declaration of dengue outbreak in Zamboanga City is provided in Executive Order CL 452-2012 mandating the implementation of appropriate measures against the disease.

Lobregat in his executive order cited the urgent need to undertake immediate interventions to control and prevent the spread of dengue fever in the city by implementing the 4 “S” strategy of the health department but not limited to the following: search and destroy breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, self protection (using mosquito nets, repellent, protecting clothing), seek early consultation and management, and say no to indiscriminate fogging. (Bong Garcia)