Iloilo City creates dengue task force, braces for war vs dengue
The Iloilo City government has finalized membership of a dengue task force as it enjoined all sectors to participate in the battle against the spread of the fatal viral disease.
The move came as six children have died at the onset of the rainy season here and the city health office reported an upsurge of more than 100 dengue cases in the barangays.
City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said the dengue task force will be composed of representatives from the city health office and barangay officials, with Dr. Mae Delmo as action officer.
The strategies for dengue control and prevention to contain its spread were finalized Monday that included the revival of the 4:00 o'clock habit in all barangays here.
The strategy involves the ringing of all church bells starting on Sunday (July 22) to signal to all responsible adults to conduct cleanliness drive in order to destroy all breeding places of dengue carrier mosquitoes. This is done in coordination with the Archdiocese of Jaro.
Trenas said there is an urgent need to destroy all possible breeding places of the Day-biting mosquito, aedes aegypti, spreading the dengue virus.
The female aedes aegypti breeds only in clean stagnant water, like rainwater, collected in empty cans, bottles caps, jars, old tires, flower vases, and other containers.
The mayor also announced that there will be a contest in every barangay where children and adults will colect "pitik pitik" or mosquitoes larva and place them in clear plastic containers and present them to an assigned person in the barangay. The presentation of collected mosquito larva will be announced by the barangays' chairmen in the respective area.
Cash prizes will be awarded to those with the most number of collected "pitik pitik".
Treñas said the battle against spread of dengue virus has become a must in the barangay level as cases of the deadly disease continue to climb. This effort must be participated by all barangay residents, he added.
Also part of the anti-dengue drive is the information and education campaign where flyers and other information materials about dengue are made available at the city mayor office and city health offices.
(PNA)