Raising dengue awareness and prevention

Back row, from left: Dr Myo Aung, Dr Myat Khaing, and Dr Myo Oo with the volunteers

A gotong-royong activity was organised by the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) of Sungai Long Campus at Evergreen Park Cypress on 9 June 2018. The activity aimed to foster the awareness of dengue disease and the prevention against the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes.

The event saw the participation of Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences’ (FMHS) Department of Population Medicine Clinical Assoc Prof Dr Myo Oo, Department of Surgery Clinical Assoc Prof Dr Myat Khaing, Dr Myo Aung, FMHS lecturers, students and public. 

Volunteers during the gotong-royong activity

The cleaning activity mainly took place at the condominium compound and the vicinity area of UTAR KA Block. The volunteers managed to clean up most of the drains and its surrounding. They also uprooted some long weeds grown in that area. The total time taken for cleaning up was about one and a half hours.

Dr Myo Oo briefed the volunteers about plants that may trigger allergy or may be sensitive to human skin. He advised them not to touch the plants and completely avoid it. They were also advised to be cautious of plants with thorns such as pokok semalu.

A sharing session was also organised after the gotong-royong activity. During the sharing session, student volunteers commented that they would like to take part in a similar activity in the future. For them, it was their first experience in joining outdoor, off-campus gotong-royong activity. As for the lecturers, it was an opportunity for them to create awareness among the student volunteers. According to them, gotong-royong activity is a divine task given to the human in taking care of the environment. It is also an initiative in setting a good example for others to follow.