Dengue Awareness Campaign; Colouring Competition

We attended a dengue awareness campaign in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan which doubled up as a colouring competition for students from two kindergartens in the area. Lauren entered the competition and was delighted to be selected as one of the winners; she came in 3rd place and won a prize!

Dengue fever is killing more people this year compared to 2013 and it's vital to understand the basic steps to preventing the spread of the disease and the aedes mosquitoes which carry it.

Lauren waiting for her prize

Lauren and her friend with their two teachers

Top 20 Photos of 2013 - #4

#4

The Exterminator. On a sunny Saturday afternoon in 2013 we were evacuated from our apartment as health officials came to do their business in response to a case of dengue fever. The Exterminator was thrust into action. This powerful gun emits mosquito repellent in billowing clouds of destruction, smothering the outside surroundings, the underground drains and inside every apartment. Dengue fever is a serious concern in Malaysia, which is heightened as irresponsible individuals casually throw litter in drains, causing a build-up of stagnant water. Mosquitoes' favourite conditions to breed. We stood outside watching the scene unfold as the loud whir of The Exterminators filled the cloudy air. Young children were afraid; I snapped away with my camera. Yes, there are opportunities for photos in every situation; opportunities to create an image of time which tells a very important story; opportunities which can create awareness in otherwise unconcerned or ignorant minds.

More photos of the mosquito extermination in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan

Following from a recent post on the extermination of mosquitoes in my apartment block in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan where I explained the dangers of improper rubbish disposal and stagnant water, which lead to dengue fever, I'll share some more images of the fogging which took place.

Exterminating mosquitoes in Kuantan

There have been two very recent cases of dengue fever in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan. This results from bites of infected mosquitoes. They like to breed in stagnant water, which is unfortunately quite common in blocked drains by the sides of the roads here. On occasion, people from Health and Safety have been to our home to check for any stagnant water on our balcony, in buckets in the bathroom, even in our toothbrush cup.

I can't over-emphasize the importance of eliminating all stagnant water in our homes and surroundings. At worst, dengue fever is a killer. In hospitals in Malaysia it is usually treated with a drip and believe it or not, by asking the infected person to drink plenty of 100plus, an isotonic drink!

This evening the health officers came with their mosquito exterminating guns and gas masks to fill the entire area with clouds of repellent. We all ran outside to watch and, in my case, take plenty of photos!

This is the best image I snapped, which I think best illustrates the issues of stagnant water, lack of proper rubbish disposal, and the scourge of dengue fever:

A health officer equipped with exterminator gun and gas mask sprays clouds of repellent around our apartment block in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan in response to two recent cases of dengue fever here.

Dengue Fever Hitting Kuantan

The weather is unpredictable lately, fluctuating between searing heat and chilly, prolonged downpours, from humid blue skies to overcast, dull conditions. These combinations seem to have been playing havoc with my body; I have been suffering from headaches, runny noses and a sore throat accompanied by much tiredness.

These conditions may have also contributed to the Aedes mosquito causing much trouble around Bukit Sekilau in Kuantan. The infected ones have been busy injecting victims with their poison, and dengue fever has become a serious threat to public health. In the last month, just in my apartment block in Bukit Sekilau, the health ministry has undertaken fogging exercises to exterminate the Aedes mosquitos as the number of dengue fever cases has spiralled upwards.

Here are the images of one of these fogging sessions around my home:

My orchid plant bears the brunt of the insecticide cloud

Health officers have entered our house several times to check the toilet, bathroom, kitchen and balcony for any signs of stagnant water. Aedes mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Those who have buckets of water in their bathrooms, cups holding toothbrushes which haven't been emptied, or plant trays on their balcony are susceptible to aiding the breeding of these Aedes mosquitoes and therefore, increasing their own chances of becoming the number one targets.

It's really very simple - eliminate standing water, and avoid places where stagnant water is prevalent.

Dengue Fever

Yesterday a couple of health officials dropped by to check for any standing water in the house as a result of somebody close by contracting Dengue Fever. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, making Dengue a serious threat.


In the evening, a bunch of men came by and spent around half an hour 'fogging' the entire apartment block and surrounding houses. They blasted repellent in all of the drains, sent plumes of it up stairwells, and flooded houses, gardens and the entire street with these smelly clouds of smoke. They certainly know how to attract an audience!


Wafts of smoke even filtered through the outline of our firmly bolted front door. They wore full face masks and used huge machine guns to take care of their business - a sight we would never behold in England!

"The Mosquito Exterminator"

Necessary Tales

"Lauren, brush your teeth." "If you don't brush your teeth, the mosquito will bite them!" "Do you want the mosquito to bite your teeth?" "Well brush your teeth then!"

Yes, this was the slight palaver we had in getting Lauren to brush her teeth last night. The threat of a mosquito bite did the trick though, and we got her teeth looking that little bit whiter.

And so I began to reflect on tales, stories, even LIES, that we tell our children from day to day without even realising it. Many a time I have heard my students telling me all sorts of things beginning with, "My mummy said..." or "My father said..." and my immediate reaction was to dismiss these fables as untrue and damaging to a child's understanding of truth and reality.

Yet our white lie to Lauren last night got me re-considering the relevance of all these myths we form in order to help our children understand a point or to simply get them to do something that is for their own good! Because sometimes, reality is all too boring for a young child; fantasy seems to make more sense in their world. In the case of Lauren, she knows that when mosquitoes bite, it's very itchy. But she doesn't yet understand that it's impossible for a mosquito to bite ones teeth. So us adults take advantage of their limited knowledge...for a good purpose!