Aklan Kiwanians launch anti-dengue drive

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - Kiwanis International launched on Monday morning its anti-dengue drive to prevent mosquito-bearing disease in the province of Aklan.

Three clubs - Kiwanis Club of Kalibo, Ati-Atihan and Kalibo Jewels distributed informative leaflets to the pupils and teachers of Kalibo Pilot Elementary School with Philippine South District Governor Rufino Leyson.

Ramel Buncalan, president of Kiwanis Club of Kalibo, said the clubs will handing out 50,000 leaflets which aimed at bringing awareness on dengue prevention. Educational materials in the form of posters, banners, streamers and leaflets, he said, are effective in the fight against dengue, especially in the rising cases of dengue in Aklan.

Potential breeding places for mosquitoes, such as small containers like disused tyres, flower vases, discarded containers and saucers of potted plants, should be also cleared.

As part of the anti-dengue campaign, the provincial government and the Aklan Blood Coordinating Council both issued dengue alert, urging the public to destroy every dengue breeding place in homes and public areas where Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the dengue virus, lived and laid eggs all year round.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) Aklan has reported 435 dengue cases as of August and from January to September 15, the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Aklan has already collected about 2,650 bags of whole blood out of 5,000 bags target yearly.