Taguig holds Dengue Summit amid national alert on viral disease

Proactive fight vs dengue

Despite the low dengue attack rate in the city, the local government of Taguig held a Dengue Summit from July 17 to 19 to increase awareness about the disease and how to prevent it from spreading in the community.

The three-day planning workshop was conducted amid a Department of Health declaration of a national dengue alert. Themed “End Dengue: Starts With Me,” the summit also took place even with a low attack rate of 3.29 percent as of June 30, and zero fatalities as of the same period.

Barangay officials from Districts 1 and 2 and representatives from DepEd-Division of Taguig City and Pateros specifically  learned more about the roles of Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD) in the community, the importance of ovicidal and larvicidal traps, and integrated vector management, among others, during the event in Antipolo which is in line with Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano’s ten-point agenda that emphasizes the need for a healthy community.

The attendees also learned to practice the enhanced 4S in dealing with dengue–Search and destroy all mosquito breeding sites, Self protection measures, Seek early consultation and Say “YES” to space spraying and residual spraying in areas with dengue clustering–from highly qualified and known personalities in the medical and academic fields.

These included University of the Philippines-Manila’s College of Public Health Prof. Myra Mistica,  DOH-National Capital Region Entomologist Mr. Dominic Sotto and DOH-NCR’s Ms. Chimmy Dawn Aquino.

Also in attendance during the event were DILG-Taguig City Director Gemma Dancil and Barangay Affairs Office officer-in-charge Ms. Evelyn Arago.

“Even before DOH’s declaration of a national dengue alert on Monday, the city has long been planning for this Dengue Summit to gather all barangays officials because you have a crucial role in fighting this viral disease in the community,” Mayor Lino Cayetano said during the last day of the summit in Antipolo, Rizal.

Mayor Lino challenged every barangay to aim for the lowest Dengue attack rate or have a significantly lower attack rate for the disease in their respective areas.

According to a presentation during the summit, the city’s target was an attack rate of less than 5 percent and a fatality rate of less than one percent.

The mayor also highlighted that with the help of the barangays, the city will be able to ensure that Taguig will remain a healthy city ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all.

Taguig has long been proactive with its fight against dengue with its year-round misting and larviciding operations and cleanup drives to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Larvitraps are also distributed and set up in various barangays in the city. Aside from these measures, dengue lectures and trainings are conducted in schools and in the 28 barangays to raise awareness on the viral illness and how it can be prevented. ###

FILIPINO VERSION

Aktibong kampanya kontra dengue

Taguig nagsagawa ng Dengue Summit kasunod ng national dengue alert

Sa kabila ng mababang bilang ng kaso ng dengue sa lungsod, inilunsad ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Taguig ang isang dengue summit noong July 17 – 19 upang itaas ang kaalaman sa kinatatakutang sakit at gumawa ng mga hakbang upang pababain ang bilang ng may dengue virus sa mga komunidad.

Ginawa ang tatlong araw na planning workshop matapos ideklara ng Department of Health ang isang national dengue alert. Sa temang “End Dengue: Starts With Me,” ang pagpupulong ay isinagawa kahit na mababa ang bilang ng insidente ng dengue sa Taguig na may attack rate na 3.29 percent, at zero pagdating sa bilang ng nasawi dahil sa dengue.

Mga opisyales ng mga barangay mula District 1 at 2 at mga kawani ng DepEd-Division ng Taguig at Pateros ay nagpulong-pulong at natutunan ang mga paraan para isakatuparan ang mga proyekto sa ilalim ng Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD) sa mga komunidad, ang kahalagahan ng ovicidal at larvicidal traps, at ang integrated vector management, at iba pa. Ang mga tinalakay sa summit na ginanap sa Antipolo ay naka-linya sa 10-point agenda ni Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano kung saan ang binibigyang importansya ang malusog na komunidad at kapaligiran.

Ang mga dumalo ay naturuan din ng pinalawig na 4S sa pagharap sa dengue. Ang 4S ay: Search and destroy all mosquito breeding sites; Self protection measures; Seek early consultation; and Say “YES” to space spraying and residual spraying in areas with dengue clustering. Ito ay ibinahagi ng mga eksperto mula sa sektor ng medikal at akademya.

Kasama na sa mga nagbahagi ng kaalaman ay sina University of the Philippines-Manila College of Public Health Prof. Myra Mistica, DOH-National Capital Region Entomologist Mr. Dominic Sotto at mula sa DOH-NCR na si Ms. Chimmy Dawn Aquino.

Dumalo rin sa pagpupulong si DILG-Taguig City Director Gemma Dancil at Barangay Affairs Office officer-in-charge Ms. Evelyn Arago.

“Bago pa man ideklara ng DOH ang national dengue alert noong Lunes, matagal nang nakaplano sa lungsod ang dengue summit upang pulungin ang mga opisyales ng mga barangay dahil sila ang nasa frontline at mahalaga ang papel nila para masugpo ang virus na nagkakalat ng sakit na ito sa mga komunidad,” wika pa ni Mayor Lino sa huling araw ng summit sa Antipolo, Rizal.

Hinikayat din ni Mayor Lino ang bawat barangay na gawing mababa ang dengue attack rate sa kanilang lugar sa kapakanan na rin ng mga tao sa nasasakupan.

Sa isang presentasyon, ang target ng Taguig ay ang attack rate na mas mababa sa 5 percent at fatality rate ng mas mababa sa one percent.

Ayon na rin sa alkalde, ang Taguig ay mananatiling malusog at ligtas mula sa karamdaman ng dengue kung patuloy na magtutulong-tulong ang mga barangay at ang city government.

Anya, ang Taguig ay matagal nang agresibo sa kampanya kontra dengue, patunay ito ng all year-round misting at larviciding operations, pati na ang cleanup drives upang masugpo ang mga lamok na may dalang dengue at mawala ang kanilang breeding grounds.

Ang mga larvitraps ay ipinapamigay din at isini-set up sa mga barangay sa buong syudad. Bukod pa rito, patuloy rin ang pagsasagawa ng dengue lectures at trainings sa mga school at sa 28 barangays upang itaas ang kaalaman ng Taguigeño sa pag-iwas at paglaban sa dengue. ###