Data from Gamping II Health Community Centre in Sleman recorded that since February 2019 there was an increase in dengue fever cases by 400 percent compared to that in 2018 in the same period. Until the end of June, 46 dengue fever cases were found in the district with the highest case being in Sawahan hamlet.
Therefore, medical profession students of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) joining Center for Indonesian Medical Students’ Activities (CIMSA) conducted FINGER - Fighting Dengue Fever project to increase awareness and insight of the local people of the disease.
“The project ran from August - October 2019 targetting 150 households in Sawahan,” said Sekar Putri Andriani, Interim Vice Local Coordinator for External Affairs of CIMSA.
She said dengue fever was the most dangerous disease caused by mosquito with the highest spread according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The disease might take lives if not treated well.
CIMSA collaborating with Gamping II health community centre, Kitabisa.com, LivOpen, and Koalisi Pemuda Hijau (KOPHI) Yogyakarta conducted the project under the supervision of World Mosquito Program (WMP) Yogyakarta.
On Sunday, 25 August 2019, counselling to adults was given by dr. Riris Andono Ahmad, MPH, Ph.D., researcher from WMP, and Muhammad Daroji, chief of the health centre. For junior people, trainers from CIMSA UGM gave briefing, followed with an interactive game related to dengue fever.
On Saturday, 7 September 2019 about 70 medical students gave a door-to-door training using posters on matters regarding dengue fever. They also distributed mosquito net to the local residents.
The project concluded with FINGER event on 27 October 2019 which consisted of neighbourhood cleaning, ecobrick and verticulture making as well as a discussion with women to discuss problems and solutions to the matter.