This 4 o’clock habit may just save your life

“Epidemic proportions.”

According to the Department of Health, this is the dengue situation in the Philippines. From a World Health Organization Dengue Situation Update in the Western Pacific, as of July 27, 2019 the number of cases reported in the Philippines was now up to 167,607. Of that number, 720 resulted to death. The Department of Health (DOH) declared a National Dengue Epidemic on August 6, 2019 to put the country on alert as seven of the 17 regions have exceeded the epidemic threshold of dengue in their respective areas for the past three consecutive weeks.

Because of this, whole communities wait for the clock to strike 4:00 every day to enact measures that can save lives: to search and destroy mosquito breeding places in hopes of curtailing the spread of dengue, which has now reached epidemic proportions in the Philippines.

The DOH annual campaign called the 4 O’clock Habit, appeals to everyone to STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN. STOP means dropping everything at 4:00 p.m. to shift focus to mosquito control. LOOK means searching for possible mosquito breeding sites like stagnant water lying in broken pots or receptacles. LISTEN means staying updated on bulletins or instructions from local government units or community heads about the ongoing measures being done and how one can help or participate.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III stresses the immediate response needed to the slowly worsening situation. “It is important that a national epidemic be declared in these areas to identify where a localized response is needed, and to enable the local government units to use their Quick Response Fund to address the epidemic situation,” he says.

Government measures like the distribution of diagnostic kits for hospitals nationwide, especially in the regions with a high number of dengue cases, are becoming a large help in simplifying the process of identifying and treating dengue patients. But the important part of controlling the spread of dengue lies in prevention by focusing on getting rid of mosquito breeding grounds.

With everyone’s help, cleaning up every day can be a key to controlling the proliferation of dengue-carrying mosquitos and, therefore, reducing the risk of contracting dengue. You can keep your family and community safe by educating and encouraging everyone you know about this simple 4 o’clock habit.

Remember to consult a health professional if you have any signs or symptoms of dengue or call the Department of Health hotlines for more information:
711-1001
711-1002