National campaign launched to control mosquito population

Government institutions and companies launched a national campaign to control mosquito population as cases of dengue fever spirals out of control in the country.

The campaign was launched on Saturday.

Participants will be out on the streets of Male’ to locate and destroy all mosquito breeding grounds.

They will also be visiting individual households to raise awareness, and destroy mosquito breeding grounds in households.

A large number of employees of Ministry of Health, Health Protection Agency, as well as government institutions and companies are participating in the campaign – including Maldives

Transport and Contracting Company, State Trading Organization, Housing Development Corporation, and organizations such as Red Crescent, Girl Guides and Scouts.

Maldives Police Service and Maldives National Defense Force officers are also participating in the campaign.

Speaking to participants after launching the campaign, Health Minister Iruthisham Adam stressed that the dengue outbreak couldn’t be controlled unless the mosquito population was controlled. And that the help of the public was vital in this situation.

“For example, there may be water retained on a flowerpot in a house. Mosquitos can start breeding no matter how small the quantity of water is. Therefore, the general public need to do it instead of the ministry going to destroy such places every time,” said Iruthisham.

She requested that the general public cooperate and participate in the campaign as the situation gets dire with two deaths from dengue just last week.