DepEd issues memo on urgency of anti-dengue drive

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has issued a memorandum on the urgency of the anti-dengue drive and specific measures, particularly for schools where children are most vulnerable to infection. 

This is in support of the nationwide campaign by the Department of Health (DOH) to curb the rise in infection in public schools nationwide. This year’s campaign has the theme “Eskwelahan, Simbahan, Barangay, Palengke at Buong Komunidad, Sama-Sama Nating Sugpuin ang Dengue.”

“Dengue fever is one of the country’s major health concerns now. Over the years, it has taken its toll on our population, including many of our school children, our health services, and the nation’s overall productivity,” said Education Secretary Armin Luistro. 

“Our motivation is obvious: our school children are among the most prone to dengue-carrying aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and we want this to stop,” he added.

Luistro said DepEd has been working hand in hand with the DOH through a social mobilization and advocacy campaign to prevent and control dengue cases in all public schools nationwide through the 4S Strategy.

4S stands for Search and destroy; Seek early consultation; Self-protective measures; and Say “no” to indiscriminate fogging.

A DOH report showed that from January to May 7 this year, 22,903 dengue cases nationwide had been recorded, eight percent higher compared to the number of cases recorded in the same period last year. Some 141 deaths have been recorded.

Most of the cases were registered in the National Capital Region (6,732), Central Luzon (4,181), and Calabarzon (3,555).

Clustering of cases was observed in some parts of La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Davao City, General Santos City, South Cotabato, Kalinga, and Metro Manila.

At the National Capital Region (NCR), Quezon City had the most (1,694) number of cases followed by Manila (824), Caloocan City (775), Pasig City (592), Valenzuela (466), and Paraaque City (407).

As a member of the Health and Emergency Management Team headed by the DOH, DepEd also serves as a focal agency in monitoring unusual disease occurrences or prevalence in schools. 

School officials are enjoined to mobilize all school health and nutrition personnel to disseminate information on the prevention and control of dengue in support of this campaign and in observance of the Dengue Awareness Month in June every year and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Dengue Day on June 15 each year.

DepEd is also implementing the Prevention Alert System in Schools (PASS), an information relay system on the health status of students and teachers. 

Under the system, students shall immediately report if someone among them is not feeling well or has cold, cough or fever.

If confirmed, the principal shall notify the family or guardian of the sick child. If the school does not have a physician, the nearest health center physician or local health worker shall be consulted.