InterAksyon.com
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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The City Health Office (CHO) will spearhead Monday a noise barrage and motorcade in the city’s thoroughfares and national highways against dengue, which has reached outbreak or epidemic level in the city. The activity is aimed to inform the public about the prevention and control of dengue fever and eventually lower the cases which have reached outbreak level. The noise barrage, which will be held after the 8 a.m. flag-raising ceremony in front of City Hall, is also a prelude to Monday’s simultaneous citywide clean up drive, set as one of the measures aimed to lower dengue cases. City health officer Dr. Rodelin Agbulos said every resident of the city should be aware of the measures to prevent and control the mosquito-borne disease which had claimed 10 lives, mostly children since Jan. 1. Mayor Celso Lobregat has declared a dengue fever outbreak in Zamboanga in the wake of rising dengue cases which have reached over 700 during the first 5 months. Dr. Agbulos told the PNA that the word outbreak also means a “epidemic.” He said there is no other higher level of the incidence of the disease except for outbreak of epidemic. The basic measures being encouraged to help bring down the dengue cases are to search and destroy breeding sites of the aedes aegypti, the dengue-carrying mosquitoes. The mayor’s declaration of a dengue outbreak in the city was formalized in Executive Order CL 452-2012, which also mandated immediate interventions to control and prevent the spread of dengue fever in the city by implementing the 4 S strategy of the Department of Health. These include, but are not limited to activities to search and destroy breeding sites of dengue mosquitoes, self protection (using mosquito nets, repellent, protective clothing), seek early consultation and management, and say no to indiscriminate fogging. Last week, Dr. Agbulos convened meetings with the barangay officials and health personnel including representatives from private and government health facilities and hospitals to discuss the dengue situation and the need to undertake immediate measures to fight against the disease.
Both Lobregat and Agbulos also emphasized the need for strong public support and cooperation to the anti-dengue campaign.
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