MANILA — A Department of Health (DOH) official on Thursday called on barangay (village) officials and personnel to join the clean-up drive to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases, such as leptospirosis and dengue fever, especially during the rainy season.
Health Undersecretary Enrique Domingo said it would be good if barangay executives lead the clean-up campaign in their areas of jurisdiction.
“They can actually help a lot, not only in dengue prevention but also in the prevention of leptospirosis. They can also prevent gastroenteritis by preventing the water from being contaminated,” Domingo told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Domingo noted that with a clean environment, several disease-carrying insects and pests, such as mosquitoes and rats, could be controlled and prevented from spreading bacteria and viruses that can trigger leptospirosis and dengue.
“We hope that they will also consider that this rainy season is also an opportune time to intensify the drive on clean-up activities,” he said.
The call for local governments and the public to participate in the clean-up activities is included in the government’s Four Strategies (4S) campaign against dengue.
In one of the strategies, the DOH encourages the clean-up of communities via the “Search and Destroy” approach, wherein people in the community check and remove from their surroundings the breeding grounds of mosquitoes such as worn-out rubber tires and cans filled with stagnant water.(Leilani Junio/PNA)
