DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, June 21 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental hosted this year’s celebration of ASEAN Dengue Day in Central Visayas which aimed to heighten public awareness on dengue prevention.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion said the celebration was held on June 19 in Guihulngan City which was participated in by officials from the Department of Health (DOH) Region 7, city and municipal health officers, public hospital representatives, and representatives from government line agencies and the private sector.

Estacion said the event was highlighted by a motorcade which included a float designed as a giant mosquito to depict the image of an aedes aegypti, a dengue-carrying mosquito.

It also served as an avenue to promote DOH’s 5S Strategies Kontra Dengue especially this month of June which is declared as National Dengue Awareness Month.

The 5S pertains to Search and destroy possible breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitos, Self-Protection, Seek early medical consultation, Support to fogging, misting, and spraying in hot spot areas, and sustain hydration.

Estacion welcomed the move to hold the ASEAN Dengue Day in Guihulngan City since it is aligned with the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO)’s goal to reach out to more people especially those outside the Metro Dumaguete Area in their dengue awareness and prevention campaign.  

Guihulngan City Mayor Filomeno Reyes also reaffirmed the city government’s commitment to support DOH’s campaign.

The provincial health officer also reiterated the IPHO’s aim to achieve zero dengue deaths.

“In Guihulngan, (the event was) also participated by representatives from Canlaon City, La Libertad, Tanjay City and it was a challenge na gisulti namo tanan na we hope na kay di man nato ma-eradicate ang dengue but we hope we will have zero deaths for next year (The event in Guihulngan City was also participated by representatives from Canlaon City, La Libertad, Tanjay City and we told them that this is a challenge for us. We know we cannot eradicate dengue but hopefully we can achieve zero-deaths for next year),” Estacion said.

As of June 10, 2023, the IPHO has recorded 515 cases of dengue infection and one death.

Despite the high figures, Estacion clarified that it is still the lowest in Central Visayas in terms of population density per province.

It is also 11% lower than what was recorded last year which was 581 cases and three deaths.

To strengthen their dengue prevention measures, the provincial government has allocated funding for its programs which include the purchase and distribution of larvicidals for local health units and the conduct of information campaign activities and trainings on etymological surveys and other capacity building measures for health workers and barangay personnel.

Estacion together with other health officials here reiterated the importance of keeping the surroundings clean especially from stagnant water which serve as breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitos.

DOH Provincial Officer Jennifer Remollo disclosed that the most common areas where they found stagnant water are in pig pens, flower vases, and in plants that could store water on their leaves like bromeliads, dish drainers, and empty bottles and cans.

“As a community we need to help. Ang problema dili ra sa unsaon nato ang pagpatay sa lamok. It’s more on the community na they know to understand, they need to know the problem (The problem is not only about how to kill the mosquitos. The community must also understand and know the problem),” Remollo said.

Dumaguete City Dengue Coordinator Leticia Flores supported Remollo’s claim that dish drainers or racks are potential breeding sites for dengue-carrying mosquitos since people tend to ignore cleaning them on a daily basis.

She urged the public to check every space even in the smallest storage space and drain the stagnant water there.

She also urged the public participate in clean-up drives in their areas.

“Kabalo na sila  mga barangay captain na every month mag-scheedule sila og clean-up (Every barangay captain has scheduled clean-up drives every month),” Flores said. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)