Health Ministry to boost fogging efforts amid 8,000+ dengue cases
With dengue cases on the rise, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is ramping up its efforts to combat the disease by empowering Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities to carry out their own fogging operations.
In a recent exclusive interview with MTV News Update, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony revealed that his ministry benefitted from a portion of the recently approved supplementary funding.
From that sum, a portion would be going towards enhancing local fogging capabilities.
“The idea here is that every NDC and every municipality, we want to make sure that they have the equipment to do their own fogging,” the Health Minister explained.
Dr. Anthony explained that right now, NDCs and municipalities would have to depend on the Health Ministry to conduct fogging exercises in their communities.
“We’re going to give them the fogging machine and train them how to use the chemicals and the personal protection equipment,” the Health Minister stated.
He added, “It is going to be a totally different way of how we are approaching fogging and trying to interrupt the life cycle of the mosquito.”
As of now, the Ministry has conducted 30,273 tests for dengue, with 8,021 returning positive results. Out of the positive cases, 894 were admitted to the hospital, with five deaths.
To this end, the Health Minister emphasised the need to interrupt the mosquito’s life cycle to prevent the spread of dengue. He called on citizens to eliminate containers and even old tires that might accumulate water, which mosquitoes can use as breeding sites.
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