DepEd Butuan City Division Mandates Dengue Prevention Measures
By LUISITO G. PERO, PhD
Principal IV
Butuan Central Elementary School
The Department of Education, Butuan City Division, intends to prevent the spread of the disease caused by mosquitoes, especially because schools may have become nests for dengue-carrying mosquitoes as no one has gone to school for more than a year due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Philippine government has implemented various legal provisions and policies aimed at preventing the upsurge of dengue fever in schools. These steps are meant to improve public health and stop diseases that can be spread from spreading. The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 is one of the primary legal bases for dengue prevention in schools and requires the provision of clean and potable water in all schools and public places to eliminate stagnant water sources that serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, the carriers of the dengue virus. In response, the DepEd Butuan City Division issued Memorandum Number 599, Series of 2022, which mandates the Oplan Galugad Kontra Dengue 2022 as a preventive measure to stop the spread of the disease.
Dengue is a viral disease that is spread by mosquitoes and that can cause flu-like symptoms and, in severe cases, can even be life-threatening. Hence, to prevent the spread of dengue in schools, breeding grounds for mosquitoes such as stagnant water are being eliminated.
To secure the prevention of the spread of dengue in the division, the memorandum has emphasized the close collaboration with the Parent-Teacher Community Associations (PTCAs) and Local Government Units (LGUs) on the conduct of the 4S strategy against dengue, which are to search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, seek early treatment, practice self-protection, and say no to indiscriminate fogging.
The memorandum further requires all Public Schools District Supervisors, School Heads, and Disaster Risk Reduction Management Coordinators to conduct the 4 o’clock habit simultaneously, commencing on December 6, 2022, and throughout the whole month.Consequently, through these activities, schools in Butuan City Division are able to contribute to the government’s efforts to control and prevent the spread of dengue fever, ultimately protecting the health and well-being of students and the general public.
As the country continues to face the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to also prioritize the prevention and control of other infectious diseases like dengue fever. So, the government, schools, and the public as a whole must stay alert and take action to put in place measures that improve public health and safety. ###
