October has barely begun but a total of 24 cases of dengue, a mosquito-transmitted disease, have been reported. The government conducted misting operations of chemicals last Sunday morning, October 4, 2015 in 49 barangays in the city to kill larvae before they become fully developed mosquitos. Their larvae, according to Cebu City Health Department (CHD) chief Dr. Daisy Villa in an interview with Sun.Star, that the effect of the chemicals on stagnant water called larvicide will last up to 4 months. The chemicals were donated by the Rotary Club 3860.
It’s A Short-Term Solution. What’s the Long Term?
“Manlimpyo lang gyud. Dapat ma-sustain sa barangays and communities ang cleanliness sa areas para dili mapunduhan og lamok (Really just cleaning. We should maintain the cleanliness of our barangays and communities so mosquitoes won’t breed.),” Dr. Villa answered. P5-million worth of larvicide has already been used up and Department of Health (DOH) 7 is requesting for another P10-million worth to really curb the rise in dengue cases. DOH 7 dengue program coordinator Michelle Acosta said they have some supplies left but should an outbreak occur, they won’t be enough and it’s best to be prepared.
Dengue fever, otherwise known as breakbone fever, is caused when a person contracts viruses through a mosquito bite.
Severity of Dengue in Cebu
Since January 2015, there have been a total of 868 reported cases. 11 lives have been lost. Now dengue victims have been rapidly increasing in number. Between, September 28-October 1 of this year, 18 cases in Daanbantayan alone were reported. From October 1-5, there were 24 cases.
In the fight against dengue, millions of pesos that could go into better projects have been spent for a short term solution and more is needed. Lives who were members of families with futures of numerous possibilities were lost to a disease that could’ve been so easily avoided by keeping Cebu clean. When we don’t get what we want like a cleaner environment, we should ask ourselves, “How badly do we want it?” If you want it enough, you’d think twice about where you throw that plastic bag.
Photo credits: Sun.Star
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