LGUs mobilized vs dengue

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) mobilized yesterday local government units (LGUs) in a nationwide drive to prevent the rise of dengue fever cases in their localities.

Interior Secretary Jose Lina Jr., in a directive to city and municipal mayors all over the country, called on local chief executives to launch a massive information drive particularly in remote areas on the danger posed by dengue fever.

Lina’s directive was in response to the alarming Department of Health (DOH) report that dengue fever cases have reached 5,099 in the past six months with at least 50 recorded deaths around the country.

Metro Manila and Central Visayas have registered the highest number of cases with 1,217 and 1,311, respectively.

A majority of those affected were male, mostly in the 1-9 age range.

The DILG chief enjoined local officials to revive the four o’clock habit program of the DOH which is aimed at eliminating possible breeding places of mosquitoes through intensified clean-up activities in their surroundings.

Local officials were also urged to coordinate with the community and non-government organizations (NGOs) to take steps in the mass destruction of mosquito breeding sites.

"Intensify information campaign to educate and raise public awareness on dengue prevention and control as well as report suspected dengue cases in your communities to health authorities," Lina said.