By Yasmin Ramlan
PETALING JAYA, June 13 — The Selangor government is collaborating with KAO Malaysia to combat dengue in the state.
State executive councillor for public health and environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the “Guard Our Future” project partnership will introduce the innovative Biore Guard Mos Block Serum, which incorporates a unique repellent technology.
This initiative marks a critical step towards addressing one of Malaysia’s most pressing public health challenges.
“Selangor’s public health vision for 2024 focuses on a strategic shift from a curative approach, which treats illnesses after they occur, to a preventive approach, which aims to avoid diseases before they happen.
“We are delighted to emphasise the importance of public-private partnerships in enhancing public health and improving the livelihoods of the Selangor people,” she said at the launch of the new serum at One World Hotel here today.
Through this collaboration, KAO Malaysia, which specialises in personal care and enrichment products, will contribute 61,080 tubes of the mosquito repellent serum, valued at RM971,172.
Jamaliah said the state will distribute the serum in stages from July until next June, prioritising dengue hotspots.
She said the initiative with KAO Malaysia will see dengue prevention campaigns held at selected schools and dengue hotspots across Selangor.
She added that activities such as community clean-ups will also be held to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, ensuring a comprehensive approach to dengue prevention.
Later, at a press conference, Jamaliah expressed hope that other private firms would emulate KAO Malaysia in collaborating with the government to fight dengue, considering the high number of cases in the country.
“Unfortunately, in Selangor, we have a lot of cases due to rapid urbanisation, climate change and massive movements of the people. We also now have more than six million residents, including those from other states.
“We (Selangor) hope to use this (project) as a pilot study to monitor its effectiveness (in combating dengue).
“This is to allow the state government to decide by next June how much we want to allocate for prevention measures, instead of mainly focusing on enforcement,” she said.
On a separate matter, Jamaliah said the number of Covid-19 cases in the state have been inconsistent.
“Usually, we receive updates from the Selangor Health Department, but the trend indicates a higher risk of rising infections after school breaks,” she said in response to a question on Selangor’s Covid-19 situation.
Jamaliah urged the public, especially those with underlying health conditions, to take precautionary measures and practise safety protocols.
