Straits Times, 30 April 2007
MOST people know what to do to stop mosquitoes from breeding, said the National Environment Agency (NEA), but many are still not acting to do so.
Among the lapses by flat-dwellers: not removing water from flower pot plates or changing water in flower vases every other day, it said.
People were more diligent when it came to its two other tips – turning pails over and covering bamboo pole holders.
A survey of 1,200 people last year revealed that while nine in 10 people knew what to do, only half of them used all anti-breeding measures.
The NEA is on a blitz to keep dengue – and the Aedes mosquito which spreads the disease – in check.
More cases of breeding in homes, a larger mosquito population, and warmer temperatures could inevitably result in more dengue cases if nothing is done soon, warned the NEA.
Grassroots organisation volunteers and environmental officers have been intensively checking public and common areas in housing board estates, as part of a campaign which started on April 9.
It is the first phase of the dengue mosquito-breeding prevention campaign.
The results, two weeks later, seem to suggest fewer cases of mosquitoes breeding in public areas outside homes such as common corridors and void decks.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor was among those who yesterday conducted antimosquito breeding checks at HDB flats in Bukit Batok, which is in the South West District where she is mayor.
Inside homes, however, the news is not as good.
Last month, 258 homes were found breeding the Aedes mosquito, compared with 140 in February.
Dr Khor said there is a high level of awareness but what is needed is to encourage more people to take action.
“It could be that when you don’t see dengue cases, you don’t hear about it, you become complacent and you forget,” she said.
Prevent mozzie breeding
TO STOP mosquitoes from breeding:
Change water in vases on alternate days.
Remove water from flowerpot plates on alternate days.
Turn all pails and water storage containers over.
Cover bamboo pole holders when they are not in use.
Clear blockages and put anti-mosquito insecticide in roof gutters monthly.
If staying away from home for some time, cover toilet bowls and floor traps.
For details, visit www.dengue.gov.sg or call 1800-333-777.
After reading this article, I have only one word to describe Singaporeans, ‘lazy’. In the article, it tells us that nine out of ten Singaporeans actually know how to stop mosquitoes from breeding but only half of them use all anti-breeding measures.
However, there are actually quite a number of residents who carry out anti-breeding measures, but to a certain extent. They are only diligent to turn pails over and covering bamboo poles; they are just too ‘lazy’ to remove water from flowerpot plates and changing water in flower vases every other day.
I used the word ‘lazy’ unsparingly as the fact is that they are already carrying out some measures, but why don’t they do it in a complete set? Removing water and changing water do not require much time at all; so just by doing that extra bit they can make quite a big difference!
What is this big difference? Due to the shortage of space in Singapore, we have flats that reach up to 30 storeys. If due to the laziness of one unit, it may cause breeding of mosquitoes that might affect the whole flat and the neighbouring ones too. As such, we can really see how much difference there is by doing that extra bit, and so it is really the responsibility of every member in the society.
As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”, I agree what Dr Khor said – what is needed is to encourage more people to take action. From the National Environment Agency (NEA)’s point of view, I know they have to keep the threat of dengue fever in check, and the best method to control is to prevent dengue fever from spreading or else they have to face the possibility of death cases for it is not as easy to cure.
This idea can be adapted into other situations like preventing lung cancer by not smoking for curing is much worse than combating the addiction to smoking. As such, I am sure if I were Dr Khor, I would have felt a sense of helplessness to find out that 258 homes were found breeding Aedes mosquitoes in March, as the NEA has been trying to prevent mosquito breeding and even taking the initiative to check homes for cases.
However, I am uncertain what the case is like in other housing estates beside Bukit Batok as the article tells us only that mosquito breeding has been detected in Bukit Batok. I just hope that the situation would be much better in other housing estates. Therefore, I guess the only thing I could do is to carry out the anti-mosquito measures with my family, which is the bare minimum that all Singaporeans should do. As such, we must do our part to stop dengue from spreading as we are not only causing trouble for the NEA, we are also threatening the lives of other people.
