A new technique of innovation research has been released. If people commonly conduct research using tools, modern devices, or some particular ingredients, in this day, Universitas Gadjah Mada and the World Mosquito Program (WMP) innovated through living things such as mosquitos to control DHF (dengue hemorrhagic fever). This research has received a Muri (Museum Rekor-Dunia Indonesia) Award handed over to Prof. dr. Adi Utarini, M.Sc, MPH, Ph.D. at Jaya Suprana Show on last 22 January 2021.
“I am so grateful for gaining this award. Big thanks are also dedicated to The Center for Tropical Medicine, UGM FKKMK, Monash University, and full funding support from the Tahija Foundation for the last ten years. Also, thanks to all parties that have been involved in this research. Hopefully, this innovation can be beneficial for the community,” she said.
Simultaneously, the UGM Chancellor also gave his big appreciation for bringing UGM’s name proud. This research has been greatly effective in reducing DHF cases in Indonesia by up to 77 percent. Therefore, he assumed that this research is considered a great contribution to the realm of health both in Indonesia and globally. He supported any collaboration, especially with Tahija Foundation, to remain together in the future innovation to solve problems in this country. Besides, he also hoped that the government would also wholeheartedly support this beneficial research for the country.
“I hope other areas other than Yogyakarta are soon able to utilize Wolbachia innovation, especially for those with a high number of DHF cases,” he added.
Trihadi Saptoadi, as the Head of Tahija Foundation, was also grateful for being a partner for a great research team that the institution remarkably supported. He was quite proud to become a part of impactful innovation for the community.
The Wolbachia Application Research in Dengue Elimination (AWED), which ended in August 2020, is the world’s first dengue control study. The study was conducted using the Randomized Controlled Trial method as the best clinical research standard (gold standard).
The research conducted shows that among 50 percent of mosquitoes containing Wolbachia is considered effective to prevent transmission from human to human since Wolbachia here is intended to hinder mosquitoes from generating and replicating.
Last year, WMP Yogyakarta collaborated with the Yogyakarta City Government through the Health Office to prime-release Wolbachia mosquitoes. Then, by the end of December 2020, a result showed that Wolbachia effectively reduced DHF cases for those previous areas. The level of effectiveness reaches up to 60 percent.
In the meantime monitoring the results, WMP Yogyakarta also focused on releasing Wolbachia mosquitoes to some other areas in Sleman, collaborating with Sleman’s district government and several health offices.
Author: Ika
Translator: Natasa A