The Manila City government has devised a strategy to educate its citizens about the preventative measures against dengue illness. The Manila LGU introduced the "Kapitan Ligtas: Dengue Fighter" mobile application, a creative approach to raise awareness of the disease.
Coordinated by the Manila Health Department (MHD), the game takes place in conjunction with the city's Dengue Awareness Month celebrations.
Kapitan Ligtas - The new Dengue Fighter
The MHD mascot, Kapitan Ligtas, leads users through the fun and instructive mobile game, which mixes action-packed gameplay with insightful lessons on stopping the dengue-carrying mosquitoes from spreading.
According to Lacuna, the mobile app was made with the intention of attracting people's curiosity, particularly youngsters, who are particularly vulnerable to dengue. The game's release is also appropriate given that the majority of Filipinos use their phones for extended periods of time and that the rainy season–which often brings with it an increase in dengue diagnosis–has begun.
"Para din po sa mga anak at apo kasi very educational ang laro o app na ito, kung saan makikita po kung paano nilalabanan ni Kapitan Ligtas ang lamok na may dalang dengue," the mayor said.
The application, however, is limited to Android smartphones.
The brainchild behind Kapitan Ligtas
Dr. Arnold Pangan, the head of MHD, created the game with its target audience being the younger generation.
"Samahan ninyo si 'Kapitan Ligtas' sa sukdulang labanan laban sa dengue. Pinagsasama ng kapana-panabik na offline na larong ito ang puno ng aksyon na may mahalagang pang-edukasyon na nilalaman upang matulungan kang matutunan kung paano pigilan ang pagkalat ng dengue,” Pangan said.
