Vunika, a notable dengue hotspot in Labasa, has become the focal point for this year’s World Environmental Health Day celebrations. The event aims to raise awareness about the critical role of waste management in disease prevention. Vakaruru Cavuilati, the Divisional Health Inspector North, noted that inspections in Vunika have uncovered poor garbage collection practices, leading to mosquito breeding grounds. In an effort to tackle this issue, students from Vunika Primary School are taking the message of environmental upkeep and disease prevention into their communities.
Engagement with the community forms a cornerstone of the celebration. Students are tasked with sharing what they learn about environmental health at home, ultimately mobilizing the entire community to adopt better waste management practices. A proposed user-pay system for garbage collection, initiated by the ministry alongside governmental stakeholders and contractors, seeks to further improve waste management in these underserved areas.
Bhagawan Lal, Head Teacher at Vunika Primary, emphasizes the pivotal role students can play in disseminating knowledge. As students educate their families, the entire community stands to benefit from the campaign’s efforts to promote cleanliness as a virus deterrent.
This year’s theme, “Clean Air, Healthy People,” serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of maintaining a clean environment to disrupt mosquito breeding cycles, thereby lowering dengue risks. The initiative in Vunika aligns with broader efforts across Fiji, where community-led campaigns in various areas have proven successful in reducing potential mosquito habitats and increasing public health awareness.
Across regions like Suva, Lautoka, and other parts of Fiji, community clean-up campaigns have been effectively mobilized to combat dengue by fostering greater public involvement. Similar efforts have been seen in the Vunisea and Lami regions, where local initiatives have spotlighted the need for ongoing communal efforts to enhance community health.
These collective actions suggest a promising outlook for public health in Fiji. By engaging with education and community participation, residents across regions can effectively reduce health threats and progress toward a future with reduced risks of dengue through sustained collaborative efforts.