ASEAN Dengue Day report from Bangkok, Thailand

Since its first outbreak in the late 1950s in the Philippines and Thailand, dengue has emerged as a public health burden in Southeast Asia and has become a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children in the region. In order to raise awareness and make dengue into a regional priority, the 10 ASEAN countries have designated June 15th as ASEAN Dengue Day. Every year, representatives from each ASEAN country come together to exchange ideas and work toward innovations that will combat the disease.

MoU Signing

Thai government steps up efforts to reduce dengue

In an effort to reduce the number of dengue cases, the Thai government is not only working at the regional level, but also organized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the national level to mark this occasion. This MoU serves as a mutual agreement between the Ministry of Public Health, six other ministries, and an administration unit, to achieve dengue prevention goals.

In an effort to reduce the number of dengue cases, the Thai government is not only working at the regional level, but also organized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the national level to mark this occasion. This MoU serves as a mutual agreement between the Ministry of Public Health, six other ministries, and an administration unit, to achieve dengue prevention goals.

Watch a younger generation join the buzz around dengue prevention

“To protect our people from dengue, the Ministry of Public Health cannot work alone – we must work together with other ministries,” said Dr. Weraphan Suphanchaimat, Vice Minister for Public Health.

“Today is an important day for commemorating the progress we have made in collaborating to achieve the national dengue reduction goal.”

Thailand Big Cleaning Day: Keep, Clean, ClearThe MoU also reaffirms the commitment of the ministries to cooperate with each other to manage resources, knowledge and information sharing, as well as promoting dengue prevention to the public. It will be in effect for four years, from June 15, 2015 until June 15, 2019.

The MoU was signed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Ministry of Interior; Ministry of Education; Bangkok Metropolitan Administration; Ministry of Tourism and Sports; Ministry of Culture; Ministry of Industrial; and Ministry of Public Health.

To raise public awareness of the disease, Thai authorities have also launched the “Big Cleaning Day” campaign to target six key areas where the disease can thrive (households, schools, hospitals, hotels, factories, and temples). The three core key messages are “Keep, Clean and Clear.” “Keep” the water containers tightly shut, “Clean” the household area, and “Clear” the garbage away from the community.

Dr.Weraphan Suphanchaimat, Vice Minister for Public Health and representatives from 7 other ministries at the MoU signing ceremony

Thailand aims to reduce the number of dengue cases by 25% by the end of 2016

The way forward: strengthen collaboration

The ASEAN Dengue Day campaign can be seen as a positive sign, indicating the willingness of policymakers to take action on the dengue situation in the region. However, to achieve dengue case reduction goals, individuals, families, communities, the private sector, non-profit organizations, and the government must work together to fight this disease.

“Dengue is not only Thailand’s challenge, but a regional one,” said Dr. Sopon Mekthon, Director General, and Department of Disease Control Thailand. “75% of the dengue burden can be found in Southeast Asia. ASEAN Dengue Day is a day when we all can be united to fight against our common enemy.”

The “Big Cleaning Day.” An official banner to begin the campaign during ASEAN Dengue Day in Thailand.

Mr. Eric Mansion, the Managing Director from Sanofi Pasteur, said, “From the private sector side, we are also working with different countries to support the government. Dengue is a growing concern in this region. Although it is a disease without any vaccine or cure, it does not mean we cannot do anything. This year on ASEAN Dengue Day, we are working with the government on a campaign called “Dengue Mission Buzz” to launch a mobile education truck to raise awareness and provide dengue education to cover 30 communities in six ASEAN countries.”

“Dengue fever is the fastest emerging disease globally,” added Mr. Henry Braun, Malaria Consortium Asia Programmes Director. “Its epidemiology is rapidly evolving, with increased frequency of outbreaks and expansion to new geographical areas that were previously unaffected. Malaria Consortium is currently working with the governments in the Mekong region to address this health and economic issue and find new innovative ways to reduce the case burden.”

According to the World Health Organization, the total number of dengue cases reported in Southeast Asia is over 100,000. Statistics show the disease has caused deaths in this region, year after year. Children being at the highest risk of contracting the disease.

“It’s about how to survive, how to get well…”

Watch, “The Lingering Effect of Dengue” below