JEDDAH: In an effort to curb dengue fever from spreading in Jeddah, the local Department of Health Affairs has added pharmacists to its war on dengue.
A large pharmaceutical chain has agreed to distribute dengue awareness information in its stores and billboards. In addition to this effort, local health officials continue to push for awareness on how to reduce the risk of contracting the mosquito-borne disease.
“We began distributing pamphlets in different places in Jeddah,” said Dr. Monira Bal-Ahamr, who leads the department’s anti-dengue efforts.
“We also trained about 150 people to spread awareness on the health issue. They will visit homes and residents in Jeddah to educate people about the danger of dengue fever.”
Bal-Ahamr urges the public to cooperate and listen to the health officials who might visit them to distribute the information. These officials will have IDs to confirm they work for the Jeddah Department of Health Affairs.
The information includes advice like covering drains and other accesses to standing water where mosquitoes deposit their larvae.
Dr. Sami Badawood said on Saturday that the campaign against the spread of dengue fever would run year-round rather than just seasonally as it has in the past.
