Monday, June 15, 2015

Davao celebrates ASEAN dengue day



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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