Jakarta Urges Household Mosquito Monitoring to Prevent Dengue

JAKARTA, STUPA NEWS — The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Jakarta chapter and the Jakarta Health Agency are urging residents to step up mosquito breeding-site control and household monitoring of mosquito larvae as part of efforts to prevent dengue.

The campaign was held during the city’s Car Free Day event at the Bundaran HI area on Sunday (Sept. 27), under the theme “One Home, One Mosquito Larvae Monitor, Zero Larvae.”

PMI Jakarta chairman Beky Mardani said dengue prevention should start at the household level through the 3M Plus mosquito-control programme.

The programme calls on residents to regularly drain water containers, cover water-storage vessels and recycle or reuse items that could become mosquito breeding sites.

Beky said residents should inspect and eliminate mosquito larvae at least once a week, not only at home but also in schools, offices and public areas.

“Under the ‘One Home, One Mosquito Larvae Monitor’ concept, every family is encouraged to have a member responsible for regularly checking places that could become mosquito breeding sites,” Beky said.

The campaign also promoted measures such as using mosquito nets and repellent lotion and maintaining clean surroundings to reduce the risk of mosquito breeding.

The initiative was supported by Takeda, Enesis and Pertamina as part of a collaboration between the government, PMI and the private sector to raise public awareness about dengue prevention.

PMI Jakarta said the campaign was also part of its Mosquito-Borne Disease Prevention Program (MDPP), which has been implemented in several parts of the capital.

According to PMI, the programme’s 3M Plus education campaign has reached 178,358 people in Balekambang and Pekayon in East Jakarta and Pengadegan and Pejaten Timur in South Jakarta.

The Car Free Day campaign included public education, free health checks and interactive activities aimed at improving awareness of dengue prevention.

PMI said a household-based approach was needed because controlling mosquito breeding sites requires regular checks of residential environments.

The programme is intended to encourage changes in community behaviour and reduce potential mosquito breeding sites in Jakarta’s residential areas. (RM Gusti Haes)