The Albay Provincial Health Office (APHO) is expanding its dengue prevention and control efforts through a health caravan to strengthen the role of barangay officials in protecting their communities.

Efelia Bitas, Nurse I of the APHO, said the current figure is based on data from three hospitals: the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC), Ziga Memorial District Hospital, and Josefina Belmonte Duran Albay Provincial Hospital.

“We are conducting a dengue health caravan focused on reorienting barangay officials, particularly the barangay captains, because we know they can help us the most. The topic is dengue prevention and control,” she said in an interview Tuesday.

The caravan has already reached Tabaco, Bacacay, Malilipot, Ligao, Daraga, and Legazpi, and next is Manito.

In Manito, the APHO is joined by the Albay Provincial Agriculture Office (APAO), which will distribute citronella plants to encourage communities to grow the mosquito-repellent plant.

Bitas said the APHO began strengthening its coordination with local health personnel even before the increase in reported dengue cases.

Based on Albay PHO data, the province has recorded 366 cases for 2026, just three cases short of the 369 recorded in 2025.

“The orientation started during the second week of July. Even before the cases increased, we had already conducted orientations. We actually called for a meeting as early as July 3. The initial meeting brought together dengue coordinators and Sanidad (Sanitary Division) from Albay’s 15 municipalities and three cities, who play an important role in implementing dengue prevention measures at the local level,” she added.

Among the measures being promoted is the Department of Health’s 4S strategy, which calls for searching and destroying mosquito breeding places, seeking early consultation, securing self-protection, and supporting fogging or spraying when appropriate.

The APHO is also emphasizing the 4T’s — Taob, Taktak, Tuyo, and Takip — as a practical household-level approach to preventing mosquito breeding.

She added that fogging and misting should be complemented by the regular destruction of breeding sites.

“Fogging and misting only kill adult mosquitoes, but their eggs are not killed. That is why we really need to destroy the breeding sites,” she said.

In schools, the APHO is encouraging the regular observance of the 4 o’clock habit, particularly the search and destruction of mosquito breeding sites.

As part of its school-based interventions, she said the APHO has already provided mosquito nets at San Pedro Elementary School in Bacacay.

The APHO urged residents to regularly check their homes, schools, and communities for potential breeding sites, including old tires, bottles, containers, plant pots, and other items that can collect water. (PNA)