All local government units, especially barangays throughout the province of Davao Oriental are now directed to conduct an intensified cleanup drive every Friday.

In an interview on Sunday, Karen Lou Deloso, provincial information officer, said Governor Nelson Dayanghirang has issued on Friday an executive order that aims to mitigate, reduce and control the spread of dengue vector mosquitoes.

“Governor Dayanghirang issued the order due to the dengue which became a perennial problem not just in the province but also in the whole country,” Deloso added.

“Each year we spent a lot of resources for the treatment of patients with dengue. What’s worse is that people suffer unnecessary deaths due to this deadly disease which could have been prevented,” Dayanghirang said during the launch of the cleanup drive on Friday.

Apart from that, Dayanghirang also turned over two fog machines to the Public Health Office to be used in case of a dengue outbreak and one spray can to each of the 11 LGUs of the province.

“These fog machines and spray cans are only temporary solutions. What we need to do is to work together to prevent this disease from spreading,” he said.

Dayanghirang urged everyone to be responsible in cleaning their own communities and houses, especially areas that are potential breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes.

“The solution is in our hands. There should be no more incidents of dengue in our province,” he added.

“We must all be united. Let’s make it a habit to clean up our own respective communities because that is our primary responsibility. By simply doing this small contribution, we can prevent a larger problem,” the governor said.

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Herminigilda Nartates, said while there are 997 cases of dengue in the province with four recorded deaths from January to September, dengue cases have significantly decreased in the latter months.

She said that while there are 105 cases for the month of July and 137 in August, cases have dropped to only nine for September.

“Although there is a decrease in the number of cases, we should not let our guards down. Mosquitoes are small but are deadly,” she said.

“Four deaths are not just a number. These are lives that could have been saved,” she added.

She emphasized the important role of the communities in getting rid of dengue mosquitoes through cleanliness and proper sanitation.

Joeford Montejo Jr., Department of Health Regional Office administrative officer, lauded Davao Oriental for being the only province in the region that created a Dengue Task Force.

He said this only means that the local leadership is serious enough in its efforts to make sure that everyone is safe from the vector-borne disease.

He also committed the department’s continuous support to the local government units especially in providing free dengue test kits.