Laoag City Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas has called the public to help in the intensified and continued campaign against dengue to lessen and minimize the number of victims here.
“Dengue cases are expected to rise as the rainy season is about to come, thus, maintaining cleanliness in every household is very important to prevent its outbreak,” Fariñas said.
The Department of Health (DOH) and the Laoag City Health Office (LCHO) with the help of other departments will continue the campaign on dengue prevention.
The city is also helping the schools and villages in the conduct of regular fogging and educating the community on tools for preventing dengue.
“We will give the best action that we could, like fogging machines as requested by the schools and barangays to lessen or minimize dengue,” said Fariñas.
In 2011, the village of Calayab in Laoag City was placed under the state of calamity due to the high number of dengue cases recorded.
While in 2015, the City Health Office (CHO) has recorded more than 400 cases of dengue. Of the number, one casualty was recorded.
Since then, the Laoag City has been conducting a regular clean-up drive dubbed “4 o’clock habit” where residents joined in the clearing of water residue where mosquitoes hide.
The city has also launched ‘4S kontra dengue’ (4S against dengue) which stands for Search & Destroy, Self-protection, Seek early consultation, and Say ‘No’ to indiscriminate fogging.
Fariñas said that the best way to fight dengue is to keep all the communities clean and free from dengue-prone areas which starts at every household.
“As part of the community, sustaining cleanliness is the best remedy they could to lessen dengue cases especially for the upcoming rainy season,” said Fariñas. (CHERRY JOY GARMA/PIA1-Ilocos Norte with reports from Rachel S. Granil, PIA-Intern)
