A HAPPY KICK-OFF. Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista joins Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag of the Department of Health in an impromptu dance number during the launching of QC’s comprehensive program on dengue prevention and control at theQuezon Memorial Circle on Friday. Dr. Tayag commended the QC government for having one of the most active dengue surveillance teams in the country. The city’s anti-dengue program, now a part of the poverty alleviation and welfare service thrust of the city government, started with simultaneous clean-up operations in four QC barangays where the disease is prevalent. With them are QC health department head Antonieta Inumerable, social services development department head Teresa Mariano, environmental protection and waste management department head Frederika Rentoy, executive director Emmy Aguinaldo of the national Solid Waste Management Commission, director Roberto Sheen of the Environmental Management Bureau and other city officials. (PAISO)
The Quezon City government launched on Friday (May 27) a comprehensive program on dengue prevention and control that will enhance the involvement of communities in environmental clean-up drives to contain the spread of the disease, which health authorities said, has now become a year-round problem.
Mayor Herbert Bautista was joined by Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag, Environment Management Bureau director Roberto Sheen and National Solid Waste Management Commission executive director Emmy Aguinaldo in launching the program in simple ceremonies at the Liwasang Aurora of the Quezon Memorial Circle at 7: 30 a.m.
“It is imperative that cleanliness should be adopted as a way of life since dengue prevention is not only a community thrust but a personal thrust,” the Mayor said.
During the occasion, Dr. Tayag commended the QC government for having one of the most active dengue surveillance teams in the country. “Sa kabila po ng pagkakaroon ng mataas na bilang ng dengue sa Quezon City, nakakatulog po nang mahimbing ang mga taga-DOH dahil may sapat na kakayanan ang pamahalaang lungsod na matugunan ang mga kaso ng dengue sa lungsod,” Tayag said.
He also said that QC’s dengue prevention campaign was launched ahead of the DOH program, which will be launched in June.
The city’s program, now a part of the poverty alleviation and welfare service thrust of the city government, started with simultaneous clean up operations mounted also on Friday in four QC barangays where the disease is more prevalent. Areas targeted for the clean-up drive are Sitio Militar Ibaba at Barangay Bahay-Toro (District I), San Ignacio and San Nicasio Streets at Barangay Gulod (District II), Liwanag and Pook dela Paz Streets at Old Balara (District III) and Kaliraya St., Victory Avenue and ROTC Hunter’s St. at Barangay Tatalon (District IV).
Barangay executives of the four barangays were provided saplings of neem trees, a known anti-mosquito repellent.
With the early onset of the rainy season, the Mayor wants to see in place all the necessary precautionary measures to avert the possible outbreak of the disease, which usually peaks during the months of July and August.
Already, dengue brigades have been formed in QC barangays to check or reduce as early as possible the incidence of dengue cases in the city, especially in depressed communities.
The Mayor administered the oath of office to the members of the dengue brigades during the launching of the program, which was jointly implemented by the city’s environmental protection and waste management department and the social services development department.
As of May 7, 2011, about 1,807 dengue cases have already been reported in Quezon City.
Barangays registering the most number of dengue cases are Bagbag, Commonwealth, Batasan Hills, Gulod and Holy Spirit, all of which are situated in District II, which constitutes majority of the city’s urban poor. -30- Precy/ Ej/ Maureen Quinones, PAISO
FOR QC’S ANTI-DENGUE PROGRAM. Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista is joined by Dr. Eric Tayag, assistant secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) in distributing neem tree saplings to barangays. In photo is Barangay chairman Benedict Bañega of Tatalon who was among those who received the neem saplings. Tatalon is one of four QC barangays covered by the city’s clean up drive mounted by the city government during the launching of QC’s comprehensive program on dengue prevention and control at the Quezon Memorial Circle on Friday. Neem trees are believed to be mosquito repellent. With the early onset of the rainy season, the Mayor wants to see in place all the necessary precautionary measures to avert the possible outbreak of the disease, which usually peaks during the months of July and August. Looking on are executive director Emmy Aguinaldo of the National Solid Waste Management Commission, executive director Roberto Sheen of the Environmental Management Bureau, QC environmental protection and waste management department head Frederika Rentoy, parks development and administration department Engr. Zaldy dela Rosa, public employment services office head Carlo Magno Abella and Marlyn Siapno, Task Force Sikap Buhay Entrepreneur Cooperative Center Office head. (PAISO)
