The call to continuously push initiatives for dengue control and prevention came about because of the rising cases of dengue in recent years among the student populace at the elementary level in barangay Mangnao in Dumaguete.
In 2016, out of the 39 cases locally reported in barangay Mangnao, 13 students (three boys, 10 girls) of South City Elementary School were confirmed to have been infected with dengue.
As a result, the school and the local barangay council through the barangay health center introduced and established the Little Dengue Brigade in South City Elementary School with 20 Grade 5 pupils starting the project in 2017.
The Dengue Brigade would allow the engagement of students to proactively advocate dengue awareness in the school. Students are trained to lead the information dissemination activities in each classroom where they will be speaking about the dengue disease, while highlighting the promotion of the 4S Kontra Dengue strategy.
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The 4S Kontra Dengue is a forefront campaign of the Department of Health towards the prevention and control of the transmission of the dengue virus.
The 4S consists of four key actions: 1) search and destroy of breeding sites, 2) self-protection measures through wearing protective clothes, 3) seeking early consultation once onset of fever and related warning symptoms arise, and 4) saying “yes” to fogging during outbreaks.
Only four students (two boys and two girls) were reported to have acquired dengue in the said school in 2017, and no dengue cases reported in the school for 2018.
With this development, the dengue brigade is continuously being implemented in the school with 20 Grade 5 student-members oriented in 2018, and 40 more students in 2019.
We have indeed seen its impact in the area, and we hope more schools would activate a dengue brigade in their localities as well.
Erma Cheryl Q. Togonon
City Health Office, Dumaguete
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