By Neela G. Duallo

Mati, Davao Oriental (8 September) -- Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat created a dengue outbreak management task force for the municipality of Mati, with the corresponding Barangay Health Emeergency Task Force (BHERT).

This came after the Mati recorded four fatalies from 154 dengue cases.

Last week, the Mayor declared a Dengue high level alert in two barangays of Mati in a meeting she called with the Local Health Board.

Barangays Sainz and Central are now under dengue high level alert, while Barangays Matiao and Dahican are considered as dengue hotspots.

As such, outbreak measures were undertaken, like the Epidemiological and Entomological Survey made by the COMBI (Communication on Behavioral Impact) Team and barangay volunteers.

Massive house to house information and education campaign was done with the cooperation of the community.

Also, the team identified and eliminated mosquito breeding sites through management of water containers; treatment of curtains of the residents in affected areas with insecticide was done as a mean to interrupt transmission.

The Municipal Health Office laboratory department was requested to offer free services such as free lab test to fever complainants from outbreak areas, requiring laboratory request from attending physician.

The local government has also been very persistent in advising the public, particularly from the affected areas to practice personal protection, seek early consultation for recurring fever, and to check their households on possible breeding sites.

Last month, the Local Health Board of Mati under a Dept of Interior and Local Government (DILG) circular facilitated a Combi-Dengue Prevention and Control Oriental.

In the Orientation, the 4S were given emphasis and reiterated for compliance, and there was a planning and presentation of school task force on dengue.

The 4S are the search for dengue carrier mosquitoes and destroy them, self protection, seek early consultation, and say no to indiscriminate fogging.

The Dengue School Project was also formally introduced in the orientation, a project of the Dept. of Health-Center for Health Development in Davao Region.

Dengue School Project entails the provision of impregnated curtains to school beneficiaries.

In the municipality of Mati, six elementary schools and two day care centers were identified as beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries were Matiao Central Elementary School, Mayor Luisito Garcia Rabat Memorial School, Don Luis Rabat Sr. Memorial School, Benito Garcia Rabat Executive Elementary School, Belsonda Elementary School, Mayor Santiago Garcia Memorial School, Calagundian Day Care Center, and Sudlon Day Care Center.

The project was launched last Sept. 15 of this year.