'The city has to do more to stop dengue'

Dengue fever is plaguing Jakarta again, and has claimed at least 17 lives and caused some 1,780 people to fall sick so far. As usual, the city administration complains about the public's lack of awareness and participation in fighting against the disease. What do Jakarta residents have to say about the administration's anti-dengue campaign? The Jakarta Post talked to some Jakarta people about the issue.

Anasthasya W, 22, works as a secretary with a trading firm at Wisma Metropolitan on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, South Jakarta. She lives with her family in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta.

I haven't heard about any administration program to combat the disease so far. At least, no visible action has been taken to prevent the disease in my neighborhood. Last year, when a similar outbreak hit the capital, the whole area was fumigated. This year, however, nothing's been done.

I think the administration has yet to do its utmost to prevent the outbreak from spreading. It is necessary for the city administration to be more proactive in fighting the disease.

Personally, I'm really afraid that someone in my family will fall sick. That's why we have taken the initiative by cleaning up the area around where we live and spraying our rooms with insecticide every day. That's all we can do until the administration does something.

Helena S, 25, works as a senior officer with an overseas bank on Jl. Imam Bonjol, Central Jakarta. She resides with her family in Pulogebang, East Jakarta.

I think the administration should work more closely with residents to prevent or eradicate the disease. Public participation in the war against disease is essential if prevention and eradication measures are to be effective. Otherwise, more outbreaks will occur in the future.

Everyone knows that many offices and residential areas have done nothing to eliminate mosquito-breeding places. This includes the management of my own office. Nothing has been done even though a friend of mine complained that she contracted dengue fever recently, and it is likely that got it at the office as she spends most of her time there.

--The Jakarta Post