'The city has to do more to stop dengue'

'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