The Taguig City government has intensified its drive to fight dengue in the city in the wake of more than 140,000 cases recorded nationwide since January.
The Department of Health recorded at least 600 deaths and declared a National Dengue Epidemic last week.
Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano convened the Local Health Board of Taguig and adopted an action plan based on the output of the city's Dengue Summit held last month as an aggressive approach to fight the disease.
The three-day Dengue Summit aimed to increase awareness about the disease and prevent it from spreading in the community.
The Local Health Board also adopted the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council's Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2019 on Aug. 6, enjoining all member agencies to support the nationwide dengue epidemic response.
In line with this, the local government continues with the interventions against dengue including simultaneous cleanup drives, and reproduction and distribution of Information, Education and Communication materials.
Taguig is also set to have its Dengue Cleanup Day today in all public schools, health centers, Super Health Centers, Taguig-Pateros District Hospital, barangay halls, City Hall and all government facilities.
The city encourages residents and communities to participate in the cleanup.
Cayetano reiterated his call to residents to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings and implement the "Enhanced 4S" which stands for (1) Search and destroy breeding sites; (2) Seek early consultation; (3) self-protect; (4) Say YES to fogging only in hotspot areas where case increase is registered for two consecutive weeks.
He earlier challenged all barangay officials and community leaders to aim for lowest dengue attack rate in their respective areas amid reports of dengue surge in the country.
Cayetano emphasized 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.
