MANILA, Aug. 17 (PNA) — The Quezon City Health Department (QCHD), in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur, will launch a massive dengue awareness campaign on Tuesday to gather QC public schools’ active participation in the drive against dengue-prone areas.
Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte have been invited to lead the campaign launch, which will be held at the Esteban Abada Elementary School in Barangay Veterans Village in Project 7.
The campaign, known as Dengue Mission Buzz 2015, will be anchored on the revival of the “4 O’clock Habit” — a campaign strategy adopted by the DOH where community members search and destroy mosquito breeding places every 4 p.m. in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly disease which usually peaks during the months of July and August.
The Dengue Mission Buzz 2015, which has the theme “Linisin ang Kapaligiran, Dengue ay Maiwasan,” will be highlighted by a parade and a dance competition among students enrolled in public schools.
To date, 13 schools have already confirmed their participation in the event. These are Sto. Cristo Elementary School, San Francisco Elementary High School, Bagong Silangan Elementary School, Batasan Hills National High School, Quirino Elementary School, Quirino High School, Diosdado Macapagal Elementary School, Don A. Roces High School, Kaligayahan Elementary School, San Bartolome High School, Bonifacio Memorial Elementary School, Culiat High School and host Esteban Abada Elementary School.
The inter-school dance competition carries a grand prize of PhP 10,000, while PhP 7,000 and PhP 5,000 cash await the second and third placers, respectively.
Based on the Aug. 8 dengue update provided by the QCHD Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, a total of 1,958 dengue hemorrhagic cases were recorded in QC from Jan. 1 to Aug. 8, this year.
Barangays Holy Spirit, Batasan Hills, Fairview, Commonwealth and Greater Lagro registered the most number of dengue hemorrhagic fever cases. (PNA)