Cleaning-up to combat dengue
RM250,000 allocated for 11 areas in Kuala Lumpur
ELEVEN areas in Kuala Lumpur have been allocated rm 250,000 each to organise clean-up campaigns to reduce the threat posed by dengue.
The allocation is timely as the number of deaths due to dengue had already exceeded the total number for last year.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Health and environment department deputy director Dr Norhayati Abdullah said there had already been three deaths due to dengue this year.
“We only had two deaths last year so we are working towards keeping the statistics down,” she said, adding that preventing a dengue outbreak required the cooperation of the public in keeping their areas free of mosquito-breeding grounds.
She said this at the Taman Gembira, Seputeh gotong-royong that was organised by the Rotary Club together with the Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Health Department recently.
Club members cleared the area of unused containers that may become mosquito-breeding grounds and distributed Abate and pamphlets to the residents.
Jalan Riang and Jalan Selesa in Taman Gembera are former dengue hotspots.
In Jalan Riang 13 people contracted dengue and two in Jalan Selesa.
Rotary Club governor Dr S. Raveendra Kumar said the group’s main objective was providing service to the community.
“We cannot kill all the mosquitoes there but the best way is to make sure there are no breeding grounds,” he said, adding that everyone should keep their own homes clean.
DBKL Seputeh area manager Shaari Yusof said one of the most common places where mosquitoes breed were plastic bags containing drinks.
“Sometimes we will find them hanging on tree branches or fences,” he said, adding that these were often the work of contractor workers.
“Taking care of your own home is not enough. Mosquitoes that bites you could have been from a house a few doors down from your own,” he said.
“We usually have one gotong-royong every weekend except during the celebration periods. Where possible, we will organise a joint one with the residents’ association or Rukun Tetangga,” he said, adding that each event cost about RM3,000 to organise.
“For our part, we will bring in the contractor workers from Alam Flora, provide the garbage lorry as well as the canopies and PA system,” he said.
He said they also had an additional RM400,000 for social development programmes and RM50,000 for emergency situations such as clearing fallen trees during a storm.
“Previously, each area only had a direct allocation of about RM100,000,” Shaari said.