Manuel A. Roxas Elementary School - MARES

MORE than a hundred treated curtains were distributed to public schools in the city in line with the city's efforts on dengue prevention.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte led the turnover ceremony of treated curtains for the benefit of 13 elementary and secondary public schools in the city.

This is in pursuance of the government's Dengue Prevention and Control Program under the City Health Office (CHO) and Department of Health, represented by CHO head Dr. Josephine Villafuerte and DOH Davao Region Director Dr. Teogenes Baluma.

A lecture on dengue prevention was also conducted by DOH regional dengue coordinator Engr. Antoinette Ebol for the benefit of students and representatives of schools.

Beneficiaries of the impregnated curtains were Bolton Elementary School (ES) where the ceremony was held, Biao Guianga ES, Calinan Central ES, Ubalde ES, Jose L Porras ES, Don Julian Rodrigues Sr. ES, Magallanes ES, Mintal ES, Sta. Ana Central ES, Doña Solidad Dolor ES, Matina Central ES, Calinan Villafuerte ES, and Calinan High School.

Each classroom is set to have one curtain as a form of preventing dengue-carrying mosquitoes infects the students inside.

Villafuerte said the CHO noted a decrease in the trend of dengue cases in the city.

"As of August our number of cases is a little over 2,800 but our death is at 36. However we assessed there is a decrease in the rise cases. What's important now is we are vigilant in preventing a patient from reaching a point na delekado na talaga ang kalagayan niya para hindi na tumaas itong deaths natin," Villafuerte said.

Bolton Elementary School principal Zosimo Pana said as mandated by the CHO, they have set up their Anti-Dengue Task Force, regularly holding clean-up in their schools.

"Malaking tulong itong mga kurtina sa amin lalo na ang usual na kinakagat ng lamok is yung mga bata. Ang hiling rin namin ngayon is sana magkaroon ng follow-up ang (CHO) sa amin at hindi mag-hinto dito ang kanilang pangangamusta sa amin on dengue," Pana said.

Fibers of said curtain are impregnated with insecticides during production so it cannot be washed out. The effectivity of said the curtains could last up to five years with high durability.

"Itong mga kurtina kapag dumapo ang mga lamok dito, kakapit na yung medisina sa katawan nito and after mga five minutes mana-knock down ito, mapopoison and within hours mamatay ito," Ebol said.

Source: Sunstar Davao, August 6, 2010