Caloocan steps up cleanliness, disease prevention campaign

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri has urged barangay leaders to lead residents in maintaining cleanliness in their surroundings to prevent the spread of diseases, particularly dengue, which are prevalent during rainy season.

Echiverri told residents to always maintain cleanliness and proper sanitation in their areas to minimize, if not eradicate, diseases such as diarrhea, leptospirosis, typhoid and dengue.

The city health department, led by Dr. Raquel So-Sayo, in cooperation with the office of Councilor RJ Echiverri, conducted a dengue seminar last week among barangay leaders dubbed as Dengue Prevention and Control.

Echiverri directed barangay officials to exert effort in disseminating vital information on how to prevent dengue in their respective areas.

The mayor also ordered the Environmental Sanitation Services (ESS) office to continue clearing the city of garbage and stagnant water that serve as breeding grounds for day-biting mosquitoes aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus that carry the dengue disease.

"Prevention is still far better than any cure, particularly with dengue cases which may lead to death if not properly addressed," the mayor said.

Dengue is usually manifested by a high fever which could last from two days to about a week, and accompanied by muscle and joint pains, rashes, severe head aches or stomach aches, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty in breathing, nose and gum bleeding and vomiting. — Pete Laude