Dengue Awareness Campaign

Prof Cheong and Danial officiating the Dengue Awareness Campaign 

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) jointly organised the Dengue Awareness Campaign with Sanofi Pasteur on 16 January 2017 at the Sungai Long Campus Multipurpose Hall.

Present at the event were FMHS Dean Emeritus Prof Dr Cheong Soon Keng, speakers Senior Lecturer Dr Mohammed Abdulrazzaq Jabbar, Senior Lecturer Dr Gary Low Kim Kuan and Lecturer Dr Kyaw Ko Latt, and FMHS staff. Representing Sanofi Pasteur c/o Sanofi-Aventis (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd were its Associate Key Accounts Manager Danial Md. Yusof and several staff.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne, viral disease spread by Aedes aegypti. Statistically, the number of dengue cases reported in Malaysia has escalated drastically from 7,103 cases in year 2000 to 120,386 cases in year 2015. The purpose of the event was to improve public awareness of the disease, along with personal risks and precautions that need to be taken to control the spread of dengue.

In the talk conducted by Dr Mohammed, he remarked, “Everyone has to play a role to combat the disease. We need to increase the awareness to a consistently high level through media, campaigns and other activities to fight the disease.”

Dr Low hosted a sharing session with the participants where they discussed on the symptoms and treatments for dengue, phases of dengue infection, home remedies, prognosis and prevention of the dengue virus.

“The global incidence of dengue has increased in the past 50 years, with an estimated 390 million dengue infections occurring each year. Therefore, it is crucial to increase the public’s awareness of dengue’s risks and steps toward prevention,” said Dr Kyaw during his dengue awareness talk.

Students and staff were encouraged to take part in activities at the game stations aimed at promoting dengue awareness. Small workshops on assembling mosquito traps and identifying the symptoms of dengue, a quiz and survey on dengue knowledge, a ‘seek and destroy’ booth and a photo booth were held as part of the campaign.

Dr Abdulrazzaq, Dr Low and Dr Kyaw during their talks

Prof Cheong, Danial and students at the photo booth

Game stations and workshops

From left: Dr Myo Oo, Dr Low, Dr Abdulrazzaq and Dr Wong Jun Leong