DAVAO City Health Office (CHO) Sanitation Unit urged barangays with fogging machines to refrain from indiscriminate use of the equipment and for the operators to undergo proper training to avoid hazardous effects to people and the environment.

With reports that some fogging machine handlers operate despite having people around, CHO Sanitation inspector Curtis Lazarraga clarified during the Ispeak media forum Thursday, January 10, that these are barangay-owned machines.

He added that some barangays bought their own fogging machines where operators are not even properly trained.

“We try as much as possible to refrain from fogging kasi it is with the use of chemicals and it is not the total solution for dengue problem,” Lazarraga said, adding that fogging is their last resort to areas with reported dengue cases.

The CHO Sanitation Unit has been following three steps for dengue control. First is the proper dissemination on the elimination of breeding sites; second is the impregnation or soaking of curtains and mosquito nets with chemicals; and lastly, fogging.

“Before we really do fogging, the main activity of the CHO is more on disseminating information because we are more concerned on the destruction and disposal of breeding sites,” Lazarraga said.

“The problem will be solved in the elimination of breeding sites kay ang mga lamok, didto man gyud na sila maga breed sa mga (because mosquitos only breed on) stagnant waters,” he added. (LHC)