The Ministry of Health (MH) set up a national team to raise awareness about the importance of the community participation and contribution towards combating dengue.
The chief of the Dengue Unit at the ministry of health (MH) Frederico Bosco Alves do Santos said the ministry has numerous dengue prevention programs because the virus claims many children’s lives every year.
“We have to establish a national team before the rains begin to raise awareness and about preventive education for the community. We have also distributed a liquid sprays and fumigated homes that have been identified as having dengue and in order the kill the mosquitoes that transmit the virus,” said Santos.
He added that in January 2015 only one person has been diagnosed with dengue. At the end of December 2014, 10 patients were diagnosed with dengue, four of whom passed away and the other six patients are still recovering.
All the cases were reported as Dili cases so he appealed to the ensure they homes are kept clean to prevent contracting dengue.
Meanwhile Member of Parliament MP Eladio Faculto from Commission F (for health, education, equality and veteran affairs) said waste must be managed properly because mosquitoes breed inside waste.
“To combat or reduce the dengue rates in the country, first we have to address rubbish management in the city in particular in the commercial areas and those who dispose of rubbish arbitrarily. This is how the dengue mosquito breeds and is able to infect people,” said MP Faculto.
Minister of State Administration Jorge da Conceição Teme said it won’t be easy to solve the waste disposal problem because it relates to personal attitudes but his ministry is working hard towards that end.
He added last year MAE allocated funds so all parts of the city were cleaned but the community’s contribution was still limited and many in the community s continue to dump rubbish carelessly inside the drains.
“This year we are thinking of hiring companies to clear rubbish in those areas the directorate of sanitation won’t be able to cover.”
