‘Vital for young to know dangers of dengue’

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KUCHING: It is vital for young children to be aware of the dangers of dengue caused by Aedes mosquitoes.

Pupils study a giant replica of an Aedes mosquito.

State Education Department private education and special education sector head Vendery Milah Nata said children can be educated and trained about the mosquitoes that have killed millions around the world.

“The best way is for them to be involved directly and understand hands-on the danger of this mosquito and how it can be prevented from endangering human lives,” she said during the Dengue Patrol 2014 launching at St Teresa’s Primary School yesterday.

She said children are in fact the best ambassadors to tell their peers, family and the community where they live about dangers and threats to the people.

“We can give them guidance and let them involve themselves directly about how they tackle this menacing disease as there is much literature on the matter,” she said.

Vendery said St Teresa’s would represent Sarawak at the programme for the competition in Putrajaya in October.

St Teresa’s Primary School headmaster Anthony Layan said he was very proud that the school would be the sole entry from Sarawak to compete against 29 other schools from across the country.

“We disseminated the projects and programmes through social media and invited people to do cleaning programmes. We sang songs and used signboards to tell people about the mosquito,” he said.

He added that the school would be monitored by the Ministry of Education for six weeks prior to the nationwide competition.

Meanwhile, Kuching North Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai said no compounds have been issued in Kuching North for offences related to the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes so far this year.

“The council will continue with our awareness programme on cleanliness and continue to eradicate Aedes mosquitoes through various community service programmes so as not to cause danger to human lives,” he said.