Cebu archbishop: Dengue an environmental concern too

A Catholic Church official in Cebu province said environmental awareness, aside from prayers, is needed in fighting dengue because the killer disease is an environmental concern too. In an article posted on the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCANews) website, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said, "We have to care for the environment. We have to cooperate, especially in cleaning our surroundings." Apart from praying, people should clean their surroundings as advised by health officials to prevent dengue-carrying mosquitoes from breeding, Vidal said. “The people should be able to cooperate with authorities in cleaning the surroundings. Otherwise, this would overwhelm us," he said. More than 69,000 dengue cases have been reported in the country so far this year, with more than 6,000 of those in Central Visayas. In Cebu City alone, 1,403 have been infected with dengue, and nine have died from the disease. Vidal earlier issued an Oratio Imperata (mandated prayer) seeking divine intervention against the dengue outbreak. He recited the prayer for the first time after celebrating the Pontifical Mass Monday night at the San Nicolas de Tolentino parish. “On our part we will take care to keep our surroundings clean, be more responsible for the environment and always be helpful toward those who are in need of our help," part of the prayer said. The prayer also seeks the intercession of the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus), the Lady of Guadalupe of Cebu, and Saint Rock (also known as San Roque or Saint Roche), the patron of the sick, who is believed to have healed plague victims. “We should pray until the time it (dengue) ceases. It [the prayer] will be said after all Masses," Vidal said. The Oratio Imperata was formulated by the Archdiocesan Commission on Worship, approved by Cardinal Vidal and forwarded to Monsignor Adelito Abella, the archdiocese’s chancellor, for dissemination. Coast Guard organizes clean-up activities vs dengue Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard organized cleanup activities against dengue. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo directed all Coast Guard districts and major units nationwide to spearhead the clean-up operations. Tamayo said such activities should motivate other organizations and communities to participate in the national prevention of dengue outbreak. –VVP, GMANews.TV