Government health officials in Durán, Ecuador, carried out a large-scale sanitation campaign to prevent dengue and other vector-borne diseases. The initiative took place in sectors 5 and 6 of Los Helechos in the Durán canton.
Lucy Baldeón, Vice Minister of Health Governance, and Andrés Carrazco, Undersecretary of Surveillance, participated alongside regional health coordinators from the Ministry of Public Health (MSP). The campaign involved 20 health brigades who visited 960 homes across 48 blocks. Their activities included larval control through chemical treatment, destruction of mosquito breeding sites, public education on dengue prevention measures, and fumigation. Insecticide-treated nets were also distributed to priority groups.
During home visits, officials and brigade members provided residents with advice on preventing mosquito proliferation. Recommendations included cleaning water tanks thoroughly, keeping containers covered, avoiding accumulation of trash, and removing items that could collect water.
Other organizations contributed to the effort. The Municipality of Durán supported by clearing vegetation, conducting rodent control operations, distributing sacks for waste collection, and removing debris. The Red Cross supplied 80 bottles of chlorine and educated residents on its proper use for disinfecting water.
The intervention also featured fixed and mobile vaccination teams administering routine immunizations as well as influenza and measles vaccines to children and adults.
Local Health Committees from Durán and several neighborhoods in Guayaquil joined the community event. Security was provided by the Armed Forces and National Police during brigade activities.
“This is a joint effort with the community. This minga must be carried out by everyone to prevent infectious diseases. At this time mosquitoes proliferate; that’s why it’s important to prevent before diseases appear. Health begins in the community, in the neighborhood and with neighbors,” said Lucy Baldeón, Vice Minister of Health Governance.
Patricia L., a local resident, expressed her appreciation: “I am very grateful to the Ministry of Public Health because they visited my house and explained how I should eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Even a bottle cap can become a breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes. They also vaccinated my family against influenza.”
These actions are part of the National Plan for Dengue Prevention and Control led by the Ministry of Public Health across Ecuador to strengthen comprehensive prevention efforts against vector-borne diseases.
