Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa led a simultaneous clean-up drive Monday as the QC government intensified its anti-dengue initiative in a campaign dubbed “Alas Kwatro, Against Mosquito.”
The program encourages all neighborhoods across Quezon City to get into the habit of cleaning their environment by 4:00 in the afternoon to destroy potential breeding grounds for dengue-carrying mosquitoes amid rising cases of dengue in the country.
QCitizens participated in the event, which featured Belmonte with the Department of Health (DOH) and other local government officials cleaning some streets. The DOH also distributed insect repellent, cleaning materials, and brochures while conducting house-to-house information drive about dengue.
QC Health Department officer-in-charge Dr. Ramona Abarquez, Batasan Hills village chief Jojo Abad, District 2 action officer Bong Teodoro, and other local leaders and volunteers also joined the collective effort to promote cleanliness around the city.
Last February 21, the DOH reported that the total number of dengue cases recorded nationwide from January to February 15 this year reached 43,732. This is 56% higher than the 27,995 cases recorded in the same period last year.
The following regions logged the highest numbers of dengue patients, according to DOH: Calabarzon (9,113), Metro Manila (7,551), and Central Luzon (7,362). At least 17 local government units in these regions were identified as “dengue hotspots.”
Quezon City declared a dengue outbreak last February 15 due to surging cases, prompting Belmonte to mobilize all assets and resources to keep the disease under control and avoid fatalities among infected residents.