BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, March 21 (PIA) — The organization of task forces in the 15 municipalities in this province had reduced the number of dengue cases, provincial health officials here said.

Dr. Arnel Magdirila, assistant provincial health officer, said dengue cases from 2010, 2011, and 2012 dramatically decreased with 1,811, 1,866 and 1,617 cases respectively because of the multi-sectoral efforts being done to control it.

“We have good performance because we controlled it in major towns such as in Bambang, Bayombong, Aritao, and Solano,” Magdirila said.

The four towns, he said, contributed a lot in the reduction of dengue cases last year, thereby building hopes for health workers to eventually make another reduction this year.

Comparative data show that dengue cases lessened from 521 in 2011 to 326 last year in Bambang town, 313 in 2011 to 116 last year in Solano town, 229 in 2011 to 164 last year in Bayombong town while Aritao town suffered a slight increase in 2011 and 2012.

According to Magdirila, the creation of municipal dengue brigades(MDBs) in the 15 local governments paved the way for the expansion of anti-dengue campaign which involved even volunteer civic organizations aside from the Department of Education, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Municipal Planning and Development Officer, Municipal Engineering Office, Municipal Health Office, Provincial Health Office, Department of Health, religious sector, and local chief executives.

“These MDB members were already oriented through the technical assistance given by the PHO and DOH,” he added.

In Bayombong, Solano, and Bambang towns, MDB members also brought down the organization within the barangay levels through the creation of Action Barangay Kontra Dengue(ABKD) where the municipal government authorized the utilization of their barangay calamity fund with additional counterpart from the municipal government for their aggressive campaign and before and during possible dengue outbreaks in their respective villages.

The components of the anti-dengue campaign, were search and destroy breeding areas of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, education on early treatment, management and prevention among the community and discouraging of fogging activities except in affected clustered areas.

In Aritao town, he said the local government unit, through the MDB, conducted a massive clean-up drive in various barangays with the assistance of the Bureau of Fire Protection in order to flush stagnant water in canals and drainage systems.

The local government also included in its criteria for their annual search for most outstanding barangay, the anti-dengue sustainability program of village councils.

“School officials and students are also taught to do cleaning in their respective areas to rid the environment of breeding sites for dengue-carrying mosquitoes,” he added.