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CNA
6 days ago
- Health
- CNA
How kampung spirit and comics are powering the fight against dengue
What does a strong sense of kampung (community) spirit have to do with eradicating dengue? Quite a bit, it turns out. A collective mindset can help residents curb the spread of dengue and protect one another from its impact. That spirit comes through in United Against Dengue, a partnership between The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Asia Pacific (IFRC APAC) and Takeda. To tackle the complex and growing challenge of dengue, the partnership draws on their combined strengths to roll out initiatives in Asia and beyond, structured around three key areas of focus: Education, advocacy and support. Under the education pillar, the focus is on building community resilience and readiness through impactful disease education and early preparedness. This includes community awareness campaigns, volunteer training using the Epidemic Control for Volunteers toolkit, and hygiene promotion through community engagement. Enhanced surveillance systems and early-action protocols will also be introduced to guide community responses and improve outcomes. Within the advocacy pillar, United Against Dengue will ensure the sustainability of preventative measures through policy work and stakeholder engagement. This includes working closely with policymakers, medical societies and community organisations to support the integration of dengue prevention, management and control into national strategies. Regional and national alignment across public health stakeholders will be prioritised to drive unified action and strengthen health system resilience for long-term impact. The support pillar, meanwhile, is designed to provide care and assistance to communities and individuals affected by dengue. By uniting science, public education and grassroots participation, this trifecta of efforts harnesses the power of joint action to help the region move closer to the World Health Organization's (WHO) goal of zero preventable dengue deaths by 2030. One of the first public-facing projects under the education pillar is a comic by The Woke Salaryman. Through accessible storytelling and practical tips, it helps enhance community readiness from the ground up. As climate change and urbanisation accelerate, 1.3 billion people across Asia now live in dengue-endemic areas. In just the first two months of the year, the Philippines reported over 62,000 cases while Malaysia recorded more than 122,000 cases and 117 deaths in 2024. The regional economic toll? An estimated US$950 million (S$1.2 billion) annually. With rising rainfall, humidity and heat making outbreaks harder to control, countries are adopting smarter, more targeted strategies. 'Joining forces with IFRC APAC, we aim to strengthen the foundation of community resilience by advancing disease literacy, enhancing early-action capabilities and empowering local health systems. United Against Dengue is designed to strengthen and complement existing public and community efforts to combat dengue collectively and ensure that communities are better equipped to anticipate, prepare for and respond to dengue outbreaks,' said Mr Dion Warren, area head of India and Southeast Asia, Takeda. 'By collaborating across sectors, including governments, non-governmental organisations, medical societies and communities, and leveraging our collective strengths and resources, we can tackle dengue's complex challenges more effectively and achieve greater impact, together. This collaboration is a call to action, underscoring the urgent need for unified, multi-sectoral action.' TAKING A VISUAL APPROACH TO DENGUE EDUCATION According to Dr Sushma Bhusal, regional thematic lead for health and care at IFRC APAC, the organisation partnered with Takeda on the United Against Dengue campaign in recognition of the company's commitment to global health. 'This collaboration brings together IFRC APAC's extensive volunteer networks and deep community-based expertise with Takeda's scientific knowledge, resources and global reach,' she said. Dr Bhusal added that The Woke Salaryman comic complements the organisation's existing materials on dengue symptoms, prevention and reducing mosquito breeding sites. These resources are used by volunteers to support ongoing awareness and outreach efforts. 'Dengue prevention requires behaviour change – that's more likely when people understand the risks in ways that connect with their everyday experiences,' Dr Bhusal observed. 'By leveraging relatable content like comics, we hope to motivate communities to act early and work together to stop the spread.' Launched on Jun 11, just ahead of ASEAN Dengue Day 2025 on Jun 15, the comic will be adapted into multiple languages to reach a wider regional audience. Mr Warren added that this approach to knowledge sharing and resource mobilisation could strengthen public-private collaboration and serve as a model for future responses to public health challenges in the region.
The Print
13-06-2025
- Health
- The Print
Uniting for Impact: 'United Against Dengue' Collaboration Launches to Elevate Education, Advocacy and Support across Asia
Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], June 12: With dengue cases continuing to rise across Asia due to factors such as changing climate conditions, increased urbanization, and population growth, a new regional collaboration has been launched to contribute to ongoing efforts in addressing this growing public health threat. In conjunction with ASEAN Dengue Day, The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Asia Pacific and Takeda today unveiled 'United Against Dengue' (UAD), a multi-year regional collaboration aimed at strengthening dengue prevention and management across the region. The collaboration aims to enhance community resilience, promote policy advocacy and support. Led by The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Takeda, the regional collaboration is dedicated to supporting the World Health Organization (WHO) and ASEAN goal of eliminating preventable dengue deaths by 2030. 'Through UAD, we aim to empower communities across Asia and beyond to take charge of their health and unite against dengue. Our focus is clear – to educate communities, advocate for sustainable dengue prevention measures, and support affected individuals and communities with care and assistance. The collaboration with Takeda reinforces WHO and ASEAN Member States' commitment to combating dengue through sustainable solutions, improving access to preventive health services, education, and healthcare support to reduce its impact on communities,' said Juja Kim, Deputy Regional Director for Asia Pacific, IFRC. 'Joining forces with IFRC, we aim to strengthen the foundation of community resilience by advancing disease literacy, enhancing early action capabilities, and empowering local health systems. UAD is designed to strengthen and complement existing public and community efforts to combat dengue collectively and ensure that communities are better equipped to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to dengue outbreaks,' said Dion Warren, Area Head of India & Southeast Asia (I-SEA), Takeda. 'By collaborating across sectors, including governments, NGOs, medical societies and communities, and leveraging our collective strengths and resources, we can tackle dengue's complex challenges more effectively and achieve greater impact, together. This collaboration is a call to action, underscoring the urgent need for unified, multi-sectoral action.' Strategic focus on Education, Advocacy and Support The collaboration is structured around three strategic pillars: Educate, Advocate, and Support. 1. Educate: Build community resilience and readiness through impactful disease education and early preparedness. Efforts include community awareness campaigns, volunteer training using the Epidemic Control for Volunteers (ECV) toolkit, and hygiene promotion through community engagement. Enhanced surveillance systems and early action protocols will also be introduced to guide community responses and improve outcomes. 2. Advocate: Ensure the sustainability of preventative measures through policy work and stakeholder engagement. This includes working closely with policymakers, medical societies, and community organizations to support the integration of dengue prevention, management and control into national strategies. Regional and national alignment across public health stakeholders is also prioritized to drive unified action and strengthen health system resilience for long-term impact. 3. Support: Provide care and assistance to communities and individuals affected by dengue. These efforts represent the initial focus of UAD and are not exhaustive. Additional efforts will be introduced as UAD continues to respond to evolving community needs and opportunities for greater impact. Kickstarting educational efforts is a partnership with popular comic platform, The Woke Salaryman for the initiative's first regional dengue educational content, a comic that will be translated to multiple languages. Leveraging their unique brand of storytelling, the series brings to light the impact of urbanization on community ties in Asia and beyond. The series not only raises awareness about dengue but also underscores the critical role of community collaboration in disease prevention efforts. Initially released in English, the comic series will be translated into Bahasa Melayu, with additional translations planned for languages beyond the region, including Spanish and French, which will be shared through IFRC's platforms. This strategic initiative aims to broaden the reach and deepen the impact of the UAD campaign, making crucial information accessible to diverse audiences across the region. The burden of dengue continues to rise Driven by climate change and rapid urbanization, dengue has become endemic in over 100 countries, with Asia shouldering approximately 70% of the global disease burden.[i] Thus far, in 2025, the Malaysian Ministry of Health's IDENGUE dashboard recorded 14,310 cases with 16 people (as of 24 March 2025) losing their lives from the disease. While current efforts are valuable, a more integrated approach is crucial to achieving the goal of zero preventable dengue deaths by 2030.[ii] 'Everyone has a role to play in the fight against dengue. UAD exemplifies the power of collaboration and community engagement in tackling this significant public health challenge. The WHO commends this creative approach to reaching and educating communities across the region. Together, we believe we can make zero preventable deaths by 2030 in Southeast Asia and beyond possible,' said Dr Deepa Gamage, Public Health Specialist, Disease Control, WHO Representative Office for Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. 'Dengue continues to pose a significant public health threat across Asia and beyond, requiring coordinated, multi-sectoral action at both regional and national levels,' said Prof. Datuk Dr. Zulkifli Ismail, Chairman of Asia Dengue Voice and Action (ADVA) and Dengue Prevention Advocacy Malaysiaand Chairman of Dengue Prevention Advocacy Malaysia (DPAM). 'Cross-sector collaboration will continue to be crucial for driving progress and protecting vulnerable populations from dengue. UAD collaboration reflects a clear intent to catalyse collaborative efforts to drive progress in dengue prevention and management.' Complementing existing public health efforts Aimed to enhance dengue awareness and bolster protection efforts, the UAD collaboration empowers communities to combat dengue through a multi-pronged approach: disease education, early action protocols, targeted public awareness campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and support for affected individuals and communities. The initiative will be rolled out across Asia and beyond. Additional regional and local programs will be launched to further drive collective action, enhance dengue awareness, and support dengue prevention efforts. More information about the UAD collaboration can be found here: About United Against Dengue (UAD) The UAD collaboration is led by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) APAC and Takeda with a focus on protecting communities from the escalating threat of dengue fever through strengthening community resilience and working toward sustainable, long-term solutions. The collaboration leverages IFRC's community reach and Takeda's healthcare expertise to empower communities in Asia and beyond with the necessary knowledge and resources to strengthen dengue education and prevention. Structured around three strategic pillars: Educate, Advocate, and Support, UAD strengthens community resilience by educating on disease prevention, advocating for sustainable policies, and supporting afflicted patients and communities. For more information about the UAD collaboration, please visit Media contact: For inquiries, please contact the United Against Dengue Secretariat at unitedagainstdengue@ [i] World Health Organization. Dengue and severe dengue. Available at Accessed: June 2025 [ii] World Health Organization, Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals, 2021. Available at: Accessed: March 2025. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
India Today
10-06-2025
- Climate
- India Today
6 earthquakes rattle India-Myanmar border in last 36 hours
Six earthquakes with mild to moderate intensity were felt at the India-Myanmar border in the last nearly 36 temblors had intensities measured between 3.8 to 4.5 on the Richter last tremor was recorded at 11.21 am on Tuesday with a magnitude of 4.3 and was felt near Manipur. The India-Myanmar border is highly prone to earthquakes. This is due to the region's location within a complex tectonic zone characterised by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian active subduction zone in the Andaman-Nicobar Islands and the major Sagaing Fault in Myanmar both contribute to the region's seismic activity. On March 28, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, killing more than 3,700 people, flattening communities and crippling infrastructure in the impoverished nation. The tremors were also felt in neighbouring 200,000 people remain displaced and live outdoors, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), even as parts of central Myanmar are jolted almost daily by aftershocks.(with inputs from Reuters)Must Watch IN THIS STORY#Earthquake#Manipur
Gulf Today
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Gulf Today
Red Cross, IFRC launch global campaign to combat heatwaves
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has initiated a global campaign titled "Heat Action Day" to address the escalating health risks associated with extreme heat. In a statement issued on Saturday in Geneva, the IFRC emphasised that extreme heat is often referred to as a "silent killer," disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and individuals with chronic illnesses. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the dangers of heatwaves and promote preventive measures to mitigate their impact. A woman rides a bicycle next to a thermometer that reads 42˚C in the morning in Seville, Spain, on Saturday. AFP The IFRC highlighted that climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves worldwide, necessitating coordinated global action to protect communities. As part of the campaign, the IFRC is collaborating with national societies, local authorities, and community organisations to implement heat preparedness plans, disseminate educational materials, and establish cooling centres in high-risk areas. The organisation called on governments and stakeholders to prioritise heatwave preparedness and integrate heat risk reduction into national disaster risk management strategies. The IFRC reiterated its commitment to supporting communities in building resilience against climate-induced hazards and ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable populations during extreme heat events. WAM
Al Etihad
30-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
IFRC launches global campaign to combat heatwaves
30 May 2025 22:22 GENEVA (WAM) The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has initiated a global campaign titled "Heat Action Day" to address the escalating health risks associated with extreme a statement issued in Geneva, the IFRC emphasised that extreme heat is often referred to as a "silent killer," disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and individuals with chronic campaign aims to raise awareness about the dangers of heatwaves and promote preventive measures to mitigate their IFRC highlighted that climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves worldwide, necessitating coordinated global action to protect part of the campaign, the IFRC is collaborating with national societies, local authorities, and community organisations to implement heat preparedness plans, disseminate educational materials, and establish cooling centres in high-risk organisation called on governments and stakeholders to prioritise heatwave preparedness and integrate heat risk reduction into national disaster risk management strategies. The IFRC reiterated its commitment to supporting communities in building resilience against climate-induced hazards and ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable populations during extreme heat events.
