DAVAO CITY, June 15 (PIA) — The Department of Health has led a
colorful and fun-filled celebration of the ASEAN Dengue Day in the city aiming
to loudly campaign against the spread of the dengue virus.
The message was put across through a motorcade along the main
thoroughfares in the heart of Davao City which led to Almendras Gym where other
several activities were featured in the 5th year observance of the ASEAN dengue
day in the city.
Other highlights include the dengue bulletin board making
contest involving elementary and high school students from 14 participating
schools, dengue interactive learning games and Indak-Indak dengue street dance
competition.
In a press conference prior to the main events, DOH
Undersecretary Dr. Vicente Belizario, Jr. said Davao City was chosen as the
national celebration site, having the best practices in terms of fighting
dengue.
Belizario said the city was conducive to sharing information and
collaboration efforts of the local government units in curbing cases of dengue.
Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy of DOH central bared that more than 40
percent decrease in dengue cases was noted last year compared to 2013.
“But we should not be complacent about it,” Suy stated,
adding that DOH continues to take aggressive activities on campaigning and
raising awareness against the dengue virus which is transmitted through the
bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito.
In Davao Region, DOH-XI regional director Dr. Abdullah
Dumama, Jr. said 67% decrease in dengue cases was noted in 2014.
Dumama said from January to June 13 this year, dengue
cases now stand at 1,407 which is 35% lower compared to the same period last
year which reached to 2,168, with Davao City having the highest number of cases
being a highly urbanized area.
He bared that there were four deaths this year, three of
which came from Davao Oriental and one from Davao City.
He added that this is lower than the recorded deaths of
nine last year.
The DOH-XI official attributed the low incident rate in the
region to the intensified actions to prevent and control dengue for the past years, and the best practices that are
being undertaken in communities.
Dumama cited the best practice of the 4 o’clock habit of
cleaning the surroundings especially in areas where the larvae of the Aedes
aegypti mosquito breed.
He also mentioned the collaboration and support of the local
government units in “trying hard to intensify campaign to reduce dengue cases.”
“Let us continue to strengthen our actions in eradicating
dengue. Mag 4 o’clock habit araw-araw,” he urged as he added that the public
must not to be complacent with the reduction in the number of
reported cases as a result of the intensified prevention and
control actions. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)
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