THE Ford Tractor Philippines (FTP) donated 10 water-based fogging machines to the Davao City Government to intensify their campaign against various mosquito-borne diseases.
FTP branch manager Ligaya Ancheta turned over the fogging machines, costing P35,000 each, to City Administrator lawyer Zuleika Lopez and Davao City Legal Officer Raul Nadela Jr.
According to Ancheta, Ford company owner Samuel Uy responded to the city's need in the wake of its strengthened campaign against viruses like dengue and Zika.
With the new equipment, city officials are hopeful that it would lessen the cases of mosquito-borne and locally-transmitted diseases among Dabawenyos.
The Davao City Health Office has already recorded several dengue cases here. But there is no confirmed report of a patient who tested positive for Zika virus.
Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed that there are six new cases of Zika virus in the country.
DOH spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag revealed that four of the six patients were from Iloilo, while the two others are from Laguna and Cebu City.
Earlier this month, the first case of Zika virus was reported, which immediately rises.
This made the total number of locally transmitted Zika virus cases to nine, where patients were between nine and 49 years old.
DOH official also said they advised pregnant women residing in the areas where Zika virus was recorded to seek for medical help to check their condition.
According to Tayag, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine will acquire 8,000 more test kits worth P48 million to augment the existing 1,000 test kits in combating the locally-transmitted virus.
Zika, which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is usually not life-threatening but has been linked to a rise in birth defects in other countries where hundreds of babies have been born with unusually small heads in recent years.
DOH has advised citizens who are experiencing symptoms to immediately consult their doctors. (JCR)