Cebu City launches ‘Oplan Denguerra’

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has issued an executive order adopting household and community-based management, protection, and control of dengue infection in the city.

Executive No. 173 or “Oplan Denguerra” states that with the reported rising incidence of dengue infection, the city must take preemptive action to protect its constituents from the lethal effect of the infection.

“A call for a collective effort to combat the rising incidence of dengue and to eliminate the vectors responsible for the spread of dengue infection must be observed. Consequently, a war against a possible dengue outbreak is imperative before the people will suffer defeat and their existence threatened once more during this pandemic period,” read the EO.

Section 1 provides that all households, communities, establishments, institutions and entities within the city are mandated to immediately take the necessary action to eliminate all possible breeding places of vectors of dengue infection.

The strict observance of the “Enhanced 4S” approach is also a must.

The “Enhanced 4S” stands for search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites; secure self-protection measures like wearing of long pants and long-sleeved shirts and daily use of mosquito repellent; seek early consultation; and support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas, where increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks, to prevent an impending outbreak.

All barangays, officials and employees of the city government shall take concrete action and mobilize all their resources to carry out all preventive, protective and pre-emptive measures to stop the rising incidence of dengue infection and a possible outbreak.

In addition, all families, households, health centers, clinics, medical facilities, and hospitals shall endeavor to provide an approach or mechanism for the early detection, reporting, and treatment of dengue cases to prevent loss of lives.

Section 4 states that an immediate conduct of serious and comprehensive clean up and sanitation drive as provided under a prior Executive Order on Enhanced Citywide Qualitative Health and Sanitation (ECQ-HS) Drive must be conducted.

The city government employees and personnel; employees and workers of the national government assigned in the city; all barangay employees and workers; convergence group; Task Force "Puyo"; education sector/academe; business sector, among others, are directed to bring out their tools, equipment, personnel to actively participate in the conduct of the ECQ-HS drive on the designated days.

Among the activities to be done during ECQ-HS drive and days are clearing of all obstructions and debris; promotion of health and sanitation; collection and proper disposal of garbage; household cleanup and housekeeping; environmental protection and preservation.

The city government strongly advances the adoption of a bottoms up approach in the management, prevention, and control of dengue infection.

“Effective governance and measure of self-protection has to start right from the person, family, household, community and entity,” read Section 8.

A public information drive on the management and prevention of dengue shall be spearheaded by the Public Information Office (PIO),  which shall connect with the Church and other religious sectors, the mass media and the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) for widest information dissemination. — JMD (FREEMAN)