Sixty-six dengue fever cases have been reported in Kampung Likas this year, with one death.

Kota Kinabalu Area Health Officer Dr Jiloris Dony said the Kampung Likas areas contributed to more than 60 per cent of the total dengue fever cases in the entire city.

His department is currently investigating over 200 reported cases all over the city

“As of late, the standard of cleanliness at Kampung Likas has been quite bad. There had been 66 reported cases of dengue fever in this area alone since the start of this year. There had been repeated occasions of dengue fever here.

“There was even one case that resulted in death. Thus, we hope that the people here would cooperate with us, so that we can reduce the number of affected localities,” Jiloris told reporters at a the joint gotong-royong at Kampung Air yesterday.

In line with this, Jiloris urged the residents of Kampung Likas to maintain the cleanliness in and outside their houses.

He also said that if residents had somehow experiencing any symptoms of fever, they must seek prompt medical assistance.

It was understood that there had been permanent surveillance conducted in the Kampung Likas areas on a weekly basis.

The Health Department had been monitoring the density of mosquitoes since January and it was revealed that more than ten per cent of the samples  taken had indicated the presence of dengue.

Meanwhile, Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) Director General Datuk Joannes Solidau disclosed that a recent study conducted by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and the State Department of Environment (DOE) had shown that the river in Kampung Likas was very polluted.

“When we went to the river to check the situation for ourselves, we had found out that there were a lot of rubbish that were stuck on the river banks. This was probably due to the encroachment by the local residents,” Joannes said.

He added although there had been numerous gotong-royong events before, it had only managed to give minimal impact on the awareness of the community.

Thus, he said it is timely for the DBKK to organize such an event, considering the fact that the dengue fever issue is also raising a lot of concerns.

To further counter these problems, the DBKK will be enforcing stricter punishments on  the wrongdoers, similar to what had been enforced in Sembulan.

“There seems to be no control at the river banks,” said Joannes.

Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid, who had officiated the event, disclosed that the gotong-royong covered various areas surrounding Kampung Air, including Kampung Gusung, Kampung Cempaka, Kampung Cenderamata as well as the Likas area in general.

Also present at the event was Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by BORNEO POST

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