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A few weeks back, I had the chance to attend a 'Fight Dengue Training' organised by NEA & PA, and got to know more about dengue fever and the Aedes mosquito. At the training, I got to meet many grassroots volunteers who help to spread the important message of fighting against dengue fever. I am full of admiration for these volunteers who give their time and energy year after year, to help the community they live in become a safer place for everyone.
Because the area I live in is a rather high-risk place for dengue fever, there are such volunteers who visit my house on a regular basis. They would wear a bright yellow jacket and a cap (just like the lady in the picture below), enter my house, check the toilets, sinks and various corners just to see if there are stagnant water anywhere. They will also remind us to be vigilant and clear our containers and vessels frequently. It's nice to have reminders like that every now and then because we tend to become complacent after a while, so I really appreciate them for doing what they are doing.
After the training, I had a chat with one of the volunteers to find out more about what they do. Mr Toh Hong Chiaw is a 72-year-old retiree, and has been serving as a RC member for the last 18 years. In recent years, he started to get involved as a volunteer to spread the anti-dengue message. On evenings when he is free, he would do house visit to remind the residents to pour away stagnant water and to keep their homes from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
When asked why he began serving as a volunteer, Mr Toh shared that he was only trying to pass time at the beginning. But as he got more involved in different events and activities, he started to find meaning in what he was doing. He enjoys spending time with his friends who are volunteers like him as well, and looks forward to participating in various events with them.
During Mr Toh's house visits, he has met many different residents - Some are very cooperative and responsive, but there are others who are not so. Nevertheless, Mr Toh continues to do his part for the community because of his heart to serve. He is also happy to see that people are generally more aware of the dangers of dengue fever now as compared to a few years ago. I could see from the glow on his face that he is proud to be able to contribute to that change. :)
By the way, speaking of keeping our homes free from dengue, if you are going to be travelling overseas during this upcoming long weekend, you may want to make special effort to keep your home safe while you are not at home. Remember I mentioned before that an Aedes mosquito takes a mere 7 days to grow from an egg to a full-grown adult mosquito. I'm sure you do not want these 'uninvited' guests to breed in your home while you are away having fun. These are what you can do to protect your home:
1) Cover all the toilet bowls in your home.
2) Seal off the overflow pipe of the flushing cistern.
3) Cover all the bamboo pole holders and floor traps.
4) Add sand granular insecticide to places that mosquitoes could potentially breed, such as flower vases and places where stagnant water could not be removed.
5) Clear blockages and add Bti insecticide in roof gutters.
6) Turn over all water storage containers.
7) Ask a relative or close friend to check your home regularly for stagnant water if you are going away for a long period of time.
8) Leave your contact with your neighbours or the neighbourhood police post/ centre so that you can be reached easily.
We all know how dangerous dengue fever can be, and how we can all do a part to stop the disease from spreading. Let's not be complacent but actively do something to make Singapore a safe place to live in. For the latest updates on the dengue situation in Singapore, join me as a fan of the Stop Dengue Now FB Page.
