Sharing a moment of hope from flickering lights of candles during the Earth Hour are (from left) Sibu Municipal Council secretary Hii Chang Kee, Wong, SMC deputy chairman Datuk Andrew Wong and SMC chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King.
SIBU: Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh has reminded that the war against the dengue outbreak which was declared more than a year ago here has not been won yet.
Speaking at the Earth Hour celebration on Saturday night, he said since last year, there was only a slight drop in the number of dengue cases as recorded last week.
Calling on families to do their part in eradicating the disease, he said the situation was a great concern.
“We are worried about the outbreak. It only needs one member in a family to spend 10 minutes a week to clean his house compound. All he needs is to check his surroundings for unwanted containers that collect rain water.”
Wong further warned: “A mosquito can spark an outbreak; a careless person can also spark an outbreak.”
He called on every member of the community to play their role in getting rid of aedes breeding grounds.
He admitted that fogging is not an effective measure to kill the mosquitoes as mosquitoes could be found in houses after they were sprayed, adding some residents did not like the idea.
“The most effective way is still the elimination of mosquito breeding grounds.”
In her speech, organising chairperson councillor Rhoda Ting said Sibu Municipal Council needed the cooperation of the community to clean up their surroundings.
“Our main objective is to create an even bigger impact on the community to bring this awareness as Sibu is hit by the dengue outbreak.
“We are going to make a difference. We are hosting many ‘gotong royong’ led by lecturers and students of University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS), Laila Taib College, Woodlands International School, church members, community leaders, neighbourhood watch members, kampung folks and others.”
Ting thus called on residents to come out in full force to support the anti-dengue campaign.
“Do it together with us. We can wipe out the disease.”