Kapit holds major gotong-royong to battle mosquitoes
Therefore it is the collective responsibility of all in the residential estates to cooperate and work as a team to put in concerted effort to ensure their compounds are clean to destroy any mosquito breeding spots.
KAPIT: Thirty- four organisations, including government departments, non- governmental organisations, neighbourhood committees, village security and development committees as well as community leaders here, took part in the district-level gotong- royong recently.
Kapit health officer Dr Deborra Ngadan warned that all could fall victim to mosquitoes-related diseases.
“Therefore it is the collective responsibility of all in the residential estates to cooperate and work as a team to put in concerted effort to ensure their compounds are clean to destroy any mosquito breeding spots,” she said.
“There’s no way to completely destroy the mosquitoes, but at least to minimise the mosquitoes.”
She pointed out that cases of mosquitorelated diseases in the district have increased this year.
“This is worrying and the government has launched mega gotong-royong campaigns nationwide to involve the locals to participate in the general cleaning; to ensure the compounds are free from
Dr Deborra Ngadan, Kapit health officer
mosquito breeding grounds and secondly to inculcate the spirit of volunteerism and create a sense of awareness of the dangers of mosquito-related diseases.
“Don’t underestimate mosquitoes because these little beasts can cause loss of human life,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, administrative officer Anyie Awing said it is vital to curb the spread of dengue fever and prevent Zika, which is also caused by Aedes mosquitoes.
“I call on community leaders here to remind the community under their respective areas of jurisdiction to inculcate gotong-royong as a culture among them to be carried out continuously throughout the year to keep their compounds clean and free from mosquito breeding places,” he said.
Kapit recorded a drastic increase of dengue cases from 40 last year to 181 cases this year.
In Song there was an increase from nine cases of dengue last year to 39 cases this year, while Belaga also recorded an increase from 16 cases last year to 20 cases this year.