The clean, arrange, paint, and plant (CAPP) initiative of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Antique was found to be effective in preventing dengue-carrying mosquitoes from thriving.

CAPP was launched in January this year to ensure that schools are well-maintained, most especially since 45 schools have opened their limited face-to-face classes, said DepEd Antique Medical Officer 3 Kristine Marie Gadayan in an interview Wednesday.

From maintaining the cleanliness of classrooms and school premises, Gadayan said parents, who came to get the modules for their children, also arranged cabinets and chairs, even painting the classrooms anew with the help of school officials and teachers.

“In the process of arranging the cabinets, chairs and other classroom facilities, the teachers with the help of the parents are also able to remove containers that could serve as mosquito-breeding places,” she added.

In addition to planting ornamental plants and vegetables, they also weed out dried leaves and twigs and get rid of old pots that could hold stagnant water.

Schools also continue to conduct dengue awareness campaign, Gadayan said.

Due to the CAPP initiative, the schools’ division has yet to monitor a learner who experienced dengue symptoms.

“Learners who have face-to-face classes right at the gate of the schools undergo thermal scanning and again before they enter their classrooms so they could be isolated immediately, but so far there had been no learner who had yet been found to have fever due to dengue,” she said.

Based on the latest report of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), Antique as of June 14 has reported 777 cases of dengue with four deaths. (PNA)