The City Council of Manila passed a resolution last Tuesday, 30 May 2023, calling for a heightened dengue awareness and prevention campaign in the city.
City Council Resolution 7437, authored by 5th District Councilor Ricardo “Boy” Isip, Jr., encourages everyone to take part in combating the deadly disease, noting that from being a seasonal ailment, it has become a year-round problem for the whole city.
Dengue cases almost doubled in the first three months of 2023, with cases increasing to 27,670 nationwide (from 14,278 in the same period last year), resulting in the death of 92 people.
This resolution is timely in view of the upcoming National Dengue Awareness Month, which is observed every June.
It reminds us to do the four “S” of dengue prevention:
- Searching and destroying mosquito breeding places
- Self-Protection Measures
- Seeking of early consultation
- Supporting fogging activities when there are threats of outbreaks
The resolution received the unanimous support of the whole Council, including its presiding officer, Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto. Some councilors even recalled having a near-death experience with the dreaded disease–Councilor Krys Bacani needed 12 bags of blood and Councilor Awi Sia’s platelet count dropped to 11 as dengue patients years ago.
Copies of the resolution will be sent to all concerned offices in the city, including barangays, churches, public markets, public hospitals, the Division of City Schools, and the Office of Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan.
