Lenakel Hospital Dengue Taskforce working hard

Following the announcement in November of the current outbreak of dengue in Vanuatu, a Dengue Taskforce has been set up in Tanna and the virus is being well monitor by the Lenakel Hospital Task force.

It is supported by a strong team of Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), which is comprise of departments and NGOs and meets monthly.

David Tovovur, the Assistant Secretary General of Tafea Provincial Council, says that a resolution of the last meeting of the taskforce held before Christmas was to ensure people clean around their homes and work places and in all Tafea.

“So we ensured all area secretaries in all area councils were informed”, he said. “The very successfully campaign team moved around nakamals, meeting places, markets and churches giving out information on dengue. Wednesday 21st of December 2016 was very successful, that saw people in all communities putting effort into cleaning up their homes and communities.”

Last week the taskforce held another meeting to update everyone on dengue in Tafea and also they have disturbed information on the dengue virus that causes dengue fever that it is carried by the Aedes mosquito. As the bite of an Aedes mosquito in effect spreads the disease, it is crucial to prevent its breeding.

The Aedes mosquito is easily identifiable by the distinctive black and white stripes on its body. It prefers to breed in clean, stagnant water easily found in homes. So it is important that people get rid of the Aedes mosquito by frequently checking and removing stagnant water in their premises.