Emphasizing that activists can serve as organic educators and campaigners against the dengue virus, Akbayan Party today launched a nationwide action against the deadly virus.
The group said the containment and prevention of the virus is a paramount issue that must be addressed by all.
“We declare an all-out war against dengue. Kung kaya ng mga aktibista na labanan ang mga kaaway ng mamamayan sa gobyerno at lipunan, hindi hamak na kaya nito na samahan ang taongbayan para labanan ang dengue,”Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said.
Bello said activists have an important role to play in the containment of the virus.
“Their superb educational and organizational skills coupled with their constant exposure and engagement in many communities makes them organic educators and campaigners against the disease. This important context enables them to reach out to the grassroots area effectively,” Bello said.
“As such, even as we encourage a more intensified and concerted effort on the part of the government, we challenge other political and social activists to throw in their support. The dengue virus knows no ideology. Kaya kailangan, magtulungan ang lahat,” Bello added.
National Day of Action
Akbayan said it has devoted a day to go around various communities all over the country to help in the campaign against the deadly dengue virus.
Dubbed as the “National Day of Action and Vigilance against Dengue, members and volunteers of the group simultaneously trooped to different communities in Metro Manila and in several provinces this Monday to inform people how to prevent dengue and treat mild cases.
The target areas of the activity were Metro Manila, Quezon City, La Union, Naga, Bicol, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao and General Santos and Cagayan De Oro.
In Quezon City, Akbayan trooped to Barangay Damayang Lagi. Together with barangay officials, the group conducted a clean-up drive and distributed information materials to the residents.
It is the second time that Akbayan held a national activity against Dengue. It was reported that the party conducted a national day of action against Dengue last year during the height of the spread of the virus.
According to a July 2011 disease surveillance report of the Department of Health, a total of 38, 876 dengue cases were reported nationwide. Most of the cases were from the following regions: National Capital Region, Region III and Region IV-A. A good number of the cases belonged to the 1 to 10 years age group.
While DoH said that there was a drop in documented dengue cases, four regions in Luzon, including Metro Manila have marked increases of dengue cases. It was reported that all cities and one municipality in the metropolis have registered increases. In Malabon alone, the numbers are up by 90 percent—491 cases compared to 259 last year. ###
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