The Department of Education (DepEd) is doing its best to protect school learners against dengue.
Dengue fever, the Department of Health (DOH) said, is a mosquito-borne viral infection that is endemic to the Philippines.
It affects people of all ages. Its severe form, dengue hemorrhagic fever, involves heavy bleeding and can be fatal.
Dengue has four strains, which means a person can be infected as many as four times in a lifetime. Each succeeding infection increases the chance of developing hemorrhagic fever.
Dengue is transmitted by the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which commonly bite during the day, but may also bite at night.
Dengue cases
The DOH’s latest epidemic-prone disease case surveillance report showed that 72,333 dengue cases and 249 deaths were recorded the highest from January to June 17, 2023.
This number is 14 percent higher than the 63,526 cases in 2022.
To help protect children during their time in school, SC Johnson through OFF, a trusted mosquito repellent brand in the country, has taken on the responsibility of partnering with 63 public and private schools in National Capital Region and Calabarzon to strengthen their dengue prevention efforts.
“As part of our program to safeguard our students from any harm brought by these dengue-carrying mosquitos, we coordinate closely with our city health unit and our community here in San Juan. We established a dengue task force to search and eliminate breeding sites of mosquitos, install nets on windows of classrooms, as well as maintain cleanliness,” said Michelle Abraham, Schools Division Office nurse of San Juan City.
Putting on mosquito repellant regularly is part of the DOH’s 4S (Self-Protect) strategy against dengue.
The 4S against dengue are:
1. Search and destroy mosquito habitats;
- Cover water drums and pails to prevent water from accumulating in them;
- Replace water in flower vases at least once a week;
- Clean gutters from leaves and debris to prevent water from becoming stagnant.; and
- Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles, and other items that can collect and hold water.
2. Self-protect n Wear long pants and long-sleeved tops.
3. Seek early consultation
- Consult a physician immediately if fever persists or keeps recurring after two days, and/or any of the other symptoms appear.
4. Say Yes to Fogging
- Only when there is an impending outbreak or a hotspot.
Abraham said that they are happy that OFF took part in the initiative by giving their schools insect repellent products that are very useful to drive off mosquitos and sponsoring educational tools to aid them in the fight against dengue.
Safer, healthier learning environment
OFF’s commitment to provide a safer and healthier learning environment is exemplified through its collaboration with educational institutions.
One of OFF’s initiatives include sponsoring plenary sessions on dengue prevention. The brand has also taken a proactive approach by providing dengue prevention tips through the installation of posters and infographics in school premises.
These initiatives serve as powerful tools for clear and concise information dissemination to educate the community with the practical tips on prevention.
“We always make sure that our schools in Las Piñas are equipped with different mechanism to fight the occurrence of dengue. We have the health unit that implements different dengue campaigns. And now, with our partners, OFF and SMS Philippines, our dengue preventive measures are strengthened and sustained. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to public health and safety in schools. Through this, we were able to equip not just our teachers and school staff, but the students and parents as well,” affirmed Reginald P. Villacorta, SDO (Schools Division Office) Las Piñas Senior Education Specialist
As part of its mission to achieve a dengue-free country, OFF extends to the broader community by engaging with parents, teachers, and local stakeholders, the brand advocates for a collective effort in combating this epidemic, ensuring the health and well-being of students is paramount.
“As parents, we want our kids to be safe and protected, so every time there is a call for volunteers in our school, we really take part. We help clean the school, especially the garden where mosquitoes are possibly breeding,” said Marilou Pajarilla, a parent.
Sign and symptoms of dengue include the following:
- Sudden onset of high fever which may last from two to seven days;
- Joint and muscle pain, pain behind the eyes, and/or headache;
- Feeling weak;
- Skin rashes;
- Nausea and vomiting, decreased appetite;
- Bleeding during hemorrhagic fever, which can manifest as nose bleeding, gum bleeding, vomiting of coffee-colored matter, dark-colored stools, or even just abdominal pain (as a sign of internal bleeding).