Dengue eradication programs to continue
TAWAU: Dengue eradication programs involving schools and the society will continue as dengue cases have increased and caused concerns despite numerous efforts to control its spread.
Assistant Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology Datuk Hamisa Samat said there were segments of the communities that still did not realize the dangers of the dengue disease and did not know how to eliminate the aedes mosquitoes.
She said dengue prevention campaigns should actively carry out prevention and education programs at grassroots levels in efforts to raise awareness about the causes and prevention of dengue.
She said the implementation of the eradication program in schools should be continued in a consistent manner.
“Programs like this are able to handle the transmission of dengue, which require active involvement of all segments of society for the success of the campaign,” she said at the launch of the national-level Dengue Patrol Program at SK Kukusan, yesterday.
Hamisa, who is also the Tanjong Batu assemblywoman, said society and students should be prepared and unite in carrying out the prevention activities.
“We cannot rely on the government alone; the anti-dengue committee at the village level can be established to oversee the dengue problem in their area. In addition, each community leaders need to remind the community in order to maintain cleanliness in their respective areas and avoid stagnant water that can become aedes mosquitos’ habitat,” she said.
She said a collaborative program undertaken by villagers as had been done last year could continue this year to curb the spread of dengue. ,
Hamisa said dengue prevention measures by the community, by destroying mosquito breeding places each week, was the most effective way to avoid dengue.
“The local community is also encouraged to conduct collaborative activities cleaning the premises and their homes,” she said adding that early prevention needed to be done and not just wait until the occurrence of dengue cases.
“The situation gets worse when people do not want to be involved in prevention activities and acted late, especially when there is occurrence of dengue cases,” she said.
“These measures are important to ensure that bushes and rubbish mounds, especially items that collect water that becomes breeding places for aedes mosquitoes, are eliminated,” she said.