Legazpi City strengthens barangay efforts vs. dengue

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- The city government is strengthening barangay-level efforts to prevent dengue amid the rainy season by mobilizing barangay health workers (BHWs) to monitor household water storage and urge residents to eliminate stagnant water and keep water containers properly covered.

In a phone interview, Mayor Hisham Ismail said dry conditions have prompted residents to store water in drums and other containers, some of which are left uncovered and are possible breeding grounds for mosquito larvae.

“We are asking for the help of our BHWs at the barangay level in monitoring those who store water,” Ismail said.

He urged residents to ensure that containers used to store water from rain or faucets are properly covered to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.

Ismail said dengue prevention requires the cooperation of residents, noting that the city government cannot address the problem alone across its 70 barangays and wide geographical area.

He said mosquito breeding sites in one household can also pose a risk to neighboring communities, making proper water storage and regular cleanup a shared responsibility.

Meanwhile, Legazpi City Health Office (CHO) head Dr. Francis Gerald Gomez said the city is conducting barangay advocacy activities and coordinating with barangay officials to strengthen regular cleanup drives.

“We are coordinating with the barangays to have regular cleanup drives. It would be better if these are done daily to ensure that we eliminate dengue breeding grounds,” Gomez said.

Gomez said fogging operations alone are insufficient to control dengue because they primarily target adult mosquitoes and do not eliminate larvae that thrive in stagnant water.

He urged residents to regularly inspect their surroundings and remove stagnant water from tires, cans, containers and other potential mosquito breeding sites.

The CHO reported two confirmed cases from January to Aug. 11 this year. It added that there were no confirmed dengue cases last year, but there were 90 suspected and probable cases.

Gomez said the city is also strengthening disease reporting and public information efforts to provide residents with timely information on dengue prevention.

The city health office urged residents to make the elimination of stagnant water a regular household practice to help prevent the spread of dengue. (PNA)

INFO CAMPAIGN. An officer of the Legazpi City Health Office conducts the Dengue Awareness and Prevention Campaign at San Joaquin Covered Court, Legazpi City, in this undated photo. The activity emphasized the 4S Strategy Against Dengue—Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, Secure self-protection measures, Seek early consultation, and Support fogging or spraying only in hotspot areas when necessary. (Photo courtesy of Legazpi City CHO FB page)