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Latest News First dengue campaign launched in pailin cambodia

First dengue campaign launched in Pailin, Cambodia

11 November 2015

October 2015 - Pailin Province in Cambodia has been experiencing a signficant increase in dengue cases, with confirmed outbreaks in six villages. According to a national report in July and August 2015, there have already been 215 dengue cases and one death as a result of the disease.

In an effort to respond to this increase, Malaria Consortium, together with the Provincial Health Department in Pailin Province (PHD) and the National Dengue Control Programme, has organised the first dengue campaign in Pailin Province, Cambodia. The theme is: “no larvae – no mosquito – no dengue.”

In attendance at the launch event was H.E. Mey Meek, Deputy Governor of  Pailin Province. In his opening remarks to the public and  the media, he explained the campaign’s theme and urged people to protect themselves by modifying their everyday routine in small ways. This included cleaning up the area surrounding the home and destroying discarded containers so that they don’t collect water, applying larvicide to water containers, sleeping under mosquito nets and seeking treatment for dengue fever at proper public health facilities. Approximately 250 participants joined the event including the PHD director, the Provincial Education Department Director and district governors. The local media were also well represented.

Malaria Consortium is the first non-governmental organisation in Pailin province to support the dengue control programme, particularly in relation to education campaigns and larvicide (Abate) distribution. This work is carried out by village malaria workers (VMWs) under the supervision of the organisation.

This VMW system was originally established to provide malaria education, free diagnostics and malaria treatment to villagers. More recently, the VMWs have been encouraged and trained to provide broader health services, especially for dengue control. They play a crucial role in distributing Abate in remote areas and spreading health education in places where it is still needed.

At the end of event, the honoraries and guests participated in a demonstration of how to add Abate and guppy fish to water jars, and also cleaned up the nearby area to encourage others to engage in similar activities to help prevent  dengue.

Pailin Deputy Governor and stakeholders participated in the opening ceremony of the dengue campaign.

The key messages of dengue prevention were delivered by health staff during the event

Abate and guppy fish were released into the water jar as a demonstration to promote key preventive behaviours in the community.

The Pailin Deputy Governor was interviewed by local media about the campaign.

Country: Cambodia

Keywords: Public health communications | Advocacy and policy

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