Thousands of People Deployed to Fight DHF in Surabaya

jpnn.com, SURABAYA - The Surabaya city administration has deployed 26,541 health cadres to jointly eradicate dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) during this year's rainy season.

Through a circular letter, Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi asked all parties to increase their awareness of dengue.

The letter has been distributed to regional heads, sub-district heads, village heads, neighborhood or community heads, schools, places of worship, mall managers, and all companies in the city of Surabaya.

He explained that increasing vigilance should be done through eradicating mosquito nests by draining and brushing the bathtubs or water pools at least once a week; tightly closing water reservoirs such as jars and water drums to prevent mosquito larvae; utilizing or recycling used goods that could hold water to become a breeding ground for mosquitoes; avoiding mosquito bites by using mosquito repellent or using mosquito nets; keeping larvae-eating fish; planting anti-mosquito plants; and changing flower vase water and drinking places for birds regularly.

"I also ask to carry out the One Jumantik, One House/Building Movement (G1R1J), involving health cadres or institutional employees to monitor and ensure there are no larvae in their respective environments," said Eri, Wednesday (3/11).

In addition, Eri also asked to activate training and activities to increase the awareness of the importance of clean and healthy living behavior both at home and in the surrounding environment.

According to him, fogging is not the main strategy in preventing dengue because it can only kill adult mosquitoes and not mosquito larvae and eggs.

"If there are family members or other people who show symptoms of dengue fever, immediately take them to the community health center for an epidemiological investigation," he said.