'Dengue Police' To Patrol Neighborhoods In Fight Against Dengue
Spreading awareness of dengue prevention measures to avoid contracting deadly dengue-carrying mosquito virus. No lamok. No dengue
Philippine-based advocacy The Sandy Project, now on its 12th Year, continues its fight
against dengue to reduce, if not prevent, dengue fever cases and deaths caused by being
bitten by dengue-virus-carrying mosquitoes. Its aim is to raise awareness of dengue
through community engagement and empowerment.
The Sandy Project is expected to activate ‘Dengue Police’ teams – comprising volunteers
from local schools and barangays (communities) – in the next few weeks. They will go
around their schools and immediate neighborhoods to check potential breeding grounds
of mosquitoes and to talk about dengue prevention measures.
The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded over 110,000 cases of dengue across the
country from January to May 10, 2025. Of the nationwide cases, DOH said it logged 437
deaths, mostly children aged five to nine. Children have lower immunity compared to
adults so the kids can get easily infected by dengue, as reported by GMA News Online on
June 5, 2025.
June – February are dengue season months in the Philippines, where some key parts of the
country have been identified as dengue endemic areas including parts of Metro Manila.
Ma. Louella Martinez-Aranas - founder of The Sandy Project
“No lamok. No dengue. Our goal is to educate and empower individuals from as young as
10-15 years old into embracing the ‘Dengue Police’ spirit, and to earnestly persuade
members of their immediate community – their families, friends, peers, neighbors, fellow
students – in doing their part to avoid the spread of dengue-virus-carrying mosquitoes,”
says lawyer Ma. Louella Martinez-Aranas, founder of The Sandy Project, her personal
advocacy solely dedicated to raising Dengue awareness and prevention campaigns.
Aranas lost her then 10-year-old only daughter Sandy to dengue in 2013. She established
The Sandy Project also in 2013 to raise awareness of the risks and dangers of the dengue
virus-carrying mosquitoes.
“It was painful losing Sandy, but it is my hope that her death can serve as a catalyst in
saving the lives of other children. No one needs to suffer or die from dengue. It can be
prevented,” she continues.
The only way to avoid contracting the dengue virus is to prevent mosquito bites and to
avoid endemic areas.
“Prevention is the best way to fight Dengue. The solution is elementary. Keep our
immediate environment and homes mosquito-free. There are no mosquitoes if there are no
breeding grounds,” Aranas emphasizes. “With the battle cry ‘Let’s fight Dengue together’
The Sandy Project’s ‘Dengue Police’ teams will strive to raise our voices to save lives.”
Keep an eye out for the ‘Dengue Police’ patrol in your schools and barangays.
If you’re interested join ‘Dengue Police’ please email: info@thesandyproject.com
BACKGROUND
The Story The Sandy Project as told by its Founder Ma. Louella Martinez-Aranas:
I lost my daughter Sandy to Dengue in 2013. She was only 10 years old. All it took was one deadly
Dengue mosquito bite. I felt hopeless. It was devastating watching my spirited beautiful daughter
slowly fade away in just one week, and that image will forever be etched in my mind.
Dengue is a silent killer, but it can be prevented. I started The Sandy Project in 2013 as a personal
advocacy to keep Sandy’s memory alive; to spark Purpose and Hope in others, and to stop the
unnecessary loss of lives.
The Sandy Project is a Dengue awareness and prevention campaign to educate communities,
starting with children, so they can stay safe as well as help save others in their communities.
Sandy’s story is the story of thousands who lost their battle against this Silent Killer. It can happen to
you or your loved one. I hope you can join me in raising the Dengue awareness and prevention
crusade.
The Sandy Project is for families, so they do not have to lose a loved one to Dengue. It is also my
humble Thanksgiving to God for the blessing of 10 happy years with my wonderful daughter. My
Sandy could have turned 22 in May 2025.
You are welcome to join our activities, to volunteer in spreading the word, and/or to partner with
The Sandy Project. Please follow and message us through our Facebook.
#thesandyproject #dengue #stopdengue # #destroydengue #dengueawareness #dengueprevention
#DOHdengue #nolamoknodengue #denguefever