THE Municipal Government of Guagua launched on Tuesday the “Oplan Zero Dengue” program in a bid to eradicate or at least reduce the incidence of dengue in this town.
The launching was held at the Guagua Elementary School in Barangay Santa Filomena led by Mayor Dante Torres and councilors Michelle Rivera and Roy Sunglao. The activity was attended by all barangay health workers of the town, barangay officials and municipal doctors.
According to Torres, the program aims to consolidate efforts in barangays to prevent the spread of dengue through preventive measures. He added that the move aims to reduce and eventually eradicate the incidence of dengue in the town.
The mayor said that the move also aims to bring all stakeholders in keeping communities clean and addressing the need for prompt and immediate detection and care for dengue victims.
"The ultimate aim is zero dengue incidence. We hope to achieve this in the long run with the help of our partners," Torres said.
The participants were given orientation on dengue prevention, detection and care for dengue patients by doctors who acted as resource speakers for the program.
Rivera and Torres highlighted the need for simultaneous cleaning of their community to eradicate mosquito breeding sites. The Aedes aegypti, carrier of dengue virus breeds both in clean and stagnant water.
The importance of the formation of Dengue Task Force (DTF), composed of barangay captain, kagawad on health, school principal, barangay health workers (BHWs) and non-government organizations (NGOs), was also highlighted as an effective way to educate the village folks on how to combat the dreaded dengue fever.
The DTF will also be responsible in monitoring dengue cases in their areas and as well as searching for mosquito breeding grounds.
Torres said that they will give incentives to barangays who will meet the objectives of the program.
