THE City Government holds a city-wide clean up Tuesday, August 20, to stop the rise of dengue cases in Cagayan de Oro.

The event, called Opra Kontra Dengue, is a simultaneous clean-up activity around the city and will start at 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Dr. Ramon Nery, chief of JR Borja General Hospital (JRBGH), urged the people to do more in cleaning their surroundings and destroying breeding grounds of mosquitoes.

Nery laments the "weak" response of the community in addressing the problem.

"Ga-overflow na ang cases sa hospital. We have already four wards for dengue and we added the lounge to cater more patients. It is very alarming, muingon sila ang pobre ra daw ang affected which is untrue because all strata of society is affected," he said.

Councilor Ma. Lourdes Gaane, chair of the committee on health and sanitation, agrees on Nery's observation, saying that based on a study, dengue cases are up in private subdivisions and private schools.

Gaane said this is likely due to the problem of drainage in these areas.

Meanwhile, the city-wide clean up will be led by Mayor Oscar Moreno and other local officials in the city.