Despite the hot and humid weather in the country, the Makati City local government is already anticipating the coming rainy season and with it, the dengue season.
According to Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, the city government has already started its anti-dengue cleanup drives in the different parts of the city as well as its information dissemination campaign to further increase the public's awareness about the disease and how to prevent it.
The city's Makati Health Department, Department of Environmental Services, Department of Engineering and Public Works, Veterinary Services Department, and Public Safety Department, together with the barangay officials of the city, are working hand-in-hand to contain dengue.
Binay said the cleanup drive started in Barangay Rizal on April 4 where aside from cleaning up the barangay's road and clearing up of its waterways and canals, the city government also installed ovi-larvi traps in several key locations determined by its experts. Ovi-larvi traps attracts egg-laying female mosquitoes and kills their eggs and larvae for it to not grow anymore.
Here is the schedule of the city's anti-dengue cleanup drives: April 18 - Brgy. Comembo; April 19 - Bgy. East Rembo; April 25 - Bgy. West Rembo; April 27 - Bgy. Guadalupe Nuevo; May 3 - Bgy. South Cembo; May 4 - Bgy. Pitogo; May 10 - Bgy. Cembo; May 16 - Bgy. Bangkal; May 18 - Bgy. Tejeros; and May 23 - Bgy. Pio del Pilar.
Binay said that the city will also conduct space spraying or misting operation in dengue high-risk areas during the rainy season.
The city government also distributed anti-dengue kits to its students to to educate them on how to prevent getting the said disease.
Each kit contains a 250 ml mosquito repellent lotion and a wrist band with four citronella capsules that last up to three months per piece.
Binay had earlier urged the public to implement the “4S” strategy in their houses, campuses, and offices to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
The 4S strategy involves searching and destroying mosquito-breeding sites, securing self-protection measures (use of insect repellent sprays/lotions, long sleeve shirts, and long pants), seeking early consultation, and supporting fogging and spraying in hotspot places.