CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government will hold a province-wide simultaneous anti-dengue cleanup tomorrow, November 10, said Provincial Health Office Chief Rene Catan.
The one-day activity will be participated by different sectors and groups, including the Department of Education, barangays, and local government units.
They will clean canals and river systems. Aside from the cleanup of canals and river systems, health education, larvicide use and curtain impregnation operations all over the province would also be conducted.
Catan, though, said larvicidal intervention might follow only after the cleanup drive because they are still procuring the larvicides.
The larvicides, he said, are seen to help address the “dramatic” increase in the number of dengue cases, which prompted the Cebu Provincial Board to place the whole province under a state of calamity last October 17.
Catan said one way to address the problem is for everybody to help in the cleanup activities.
He said that those who will join the cleanup should not only focus on cleaning the surroundings of garbage but also on eliminating the breeding sites of mosquitoes.
“Motabang ta aron mapaubos nato ang count sa cases sa dengue,” he said.
“Dili dependent sa local government unit kay we can only do so much kanang paglimpyo sa environment mao gyud nay makatabang aron mapaubos ang kaso sa dengue. We appeal to the public nga magtinabangay ta,” he added.
The number of dengue cases in Cebu province has reached 6,448 from January to October 15 this year based on data from the Provincial Health Office. A total of 60 deaths were also recorded.
He said that as of yesterday, dengue cases have already reached 7,000, with most victims below five years old. (FREEMAN)