DOST, DepEd to deploy ovicidal trap system in elementary schools in EV to contain dengue

GOVERNMENT CENTER, Palo, Leyte – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) together with the Department of Education in this region will be deploying Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap System to different elementary schools in Eastern Visayas.

The said deployment is in line with school based dengue eradication project of the government agencies after noting that most of dengue cases victims are children five to nine years old and who are most often in school.

Mae Anne Reyes, dengue coordinator of DOST in the region, said that prior to the deployment of trap system to the schools a training to be supervised by the DOST is to be conducted among teachers.

“What we do first is to train their supervisor in the regional level, then at the provincial or district level together with DOST personnel in each province are to train the teachers,” Reyes said.

“It will be a half-day training and the personnel of DepEd are to provide the areas where it will be conducted, however, if they can’t provide us the facility, they can tap the respective local government units to provide them the venue,” Reyes added.

Furthermore, Reyes explained that four OL trap systems are to be put in the each classroom, two inside and another two outside the classroom.

These trap system must be monitor regularly to check if their larvae and dengue virus carrying mosquitoes are present in their area, she added.

The program will last for six months after which it will be turned-over to the school administration and LGU concerned to continue the program.

“But during the period of six months, the DOST will be providing them the OL trap system including the pellet for free, after six months it will up to the school administration to continue to program, and can buy the pellet in the DOST offices at a minimal price,” Reyes explained.

“I hope that once we turned-over the program to the schools and LGU they will continue with it because this will help us in lessening the cases of dengue victims in our area, where most of the victims are children,” she added.