Thach Thanh proactively takes measures to prevent and control dengue fever

The dengue fever situation in many provinces and cities remains complex. Currently, high temperatures create favorable conditions for the development of mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever. Therefore, health units in Thach Thanh district have directed local health centers to strengthen communication efforts on dengue fever prevention and control to raise public awareness of proactive and appropriate prevention measures, preventing the disease from appearing and spreading in the community.

Thach Thanh proactively implements measures to prevent and control dengue fever. Residents of Kim Tan town participate in a general environmental cleanup to prevent and control dengue fever.

From the beginning of the year, the Thach Thanh District Health Center advised the District People's Committee to strengthen the Steering Committee for disease prevention and control at the district and commune levels and assign specific tasks to each member. At the same time, the task of dengue fever prevention and control was included in the Steering Committee's disease prevention and control activity plan as a basis for implementation. The unit directed the implementation of vector surveillance, patient surveillance, environmental sanitation, water sanitation, removal of water containers where mosquito larvae develop, elimination of mosquito larvae, organization of chemical spraying to kill disease-transmitting mosquitoes, and encouraged people to wear long clothes and sleep under mosquito nets to avoid mosquito bites. Simultaneously, in coordination with the district and commune radio stations, the center intensified propaganda efforts through mass media to inform the entire population about basic knowledge and measures for dengue fever prevention and control in the area.

Dr. Dang Van Thuan, Director of the Thach Thanh District Health Center, said: To proactively prevent and control the disease, the District Health Center has issued directives to proactively prevent and control dengue fever. At the same time, it has directed commune and town health stations to strengthen the dissemination of hygiene and disease prevention information to the people, especially in areas frequently affected by rain, floods, and storms; proactively coordinate with local authorities to monitor, supervise, inspect, and isolate cases... when cases appear, promptly implementing measures to prevent the spread of the disease. In addition, the District Health Center has coordinated with units and localities to spray chemicals to kill mosquitoes in areas at high risk of disease outbreaks; and conducts monthly general environmental sanitation, organizing the collection and thorough disposal of waste to prevent disease outbreaks. In localities, the monitoring of insect indices, disease vectors, surveillance, investigation, and statistics of dengue fever cases and infectious diseases are carried out strictly according to the center's directives, especially in villages, neighborhoods, and communes that were once dengue fever hotspots; emphasis is placed on monitoring patients when they show symptoms of dengue fever...

In Kim Tan town, a former dengue fever outbreak area, disease prevention and control is always a top priority. Following the plan from higher authorities, the town's health station organized awareness campaigns in neighborhoods to improve public understanding and encouraged residents to participate in general environmental sanitation. Weekly, neighborhoods cleaned their homes, village roads, alleys, and community centers, overturned and collected water-collecting containers, and sprayed insecticide in high-risk areas to minimize dengue outbreaks. Health officials provided detailed information to residents on dengue prevention measures, from detecting the disease and home treatment to environmental sanitation, mosquito and larva control, and preventing mosquito breeding and spread of the disease in the community.

Ms. Le Thi Huong, from Zone 6, Tan Son, Kim Tan town, said: "Rural areas often have a higher risk of dengue fever outbreaks due to the large area of land for living and working, the presence of many ponds, lakes, water containers, and bushes – all favorable conditions for dengue mosquitoes to breed and develop. Therefore, each citizen needs to be proactive, raise awareness, and implement appropriate and effective prevention measures. According to the guidelines, I spray mosquito repellent once every 3 to 6 months in the area around my house. However, because the base of trees and bushes near the ponds are always low and damp, attracting many mosquitoes, I increase the frequency of spraying to control mosquito breeding and development." In addition, all potted plants, water containers, etc., in my garden and around my house are kept free of standing water. I keep the garden clean, clear away bushes and weeds, and prevent mosquito larvae from developing into dengue fever mosquitoes.

According to Le Van Thinh, head of the Kim Tan town health station: Although there have been no imported or imported dengue fever cases in the area during the first months of 2023, disease prevention and control efforts have always been prioritized and intensified, especially through increased public awareness campaigns aimed at changing people's behavior so they can protect their own health and proactively implement preventive measures.

Thanks to the decisive involvement of the local government, various levels of agencies and organizations, and especially the consensus of the people in the district, the dengue fever situation in Thach Thanh district is currently under control. The district's health sector continues to advise the local government to actively organize public awareness campaigns through the public address system on disease prevention measures such as: using mosquito nets while sleeping, even during the day; maintaining a clean and well-ventilated living environment; eliminating mosquito larvae; and preventing stagnant water from accumulating in containers for extended periods. When suspected of having dengue fever, people should immediately go to a medical facility for examination and treatment to avoid spreading the disease to family members and the community, and to prevent the disease from developing into an epidemic.

Text and photos: Ha Phuong

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