Everyone has a part to play in fighting Zika: Masagos

SINGAPORE — The National Environment Agency will allocate their resources carefully in their vector operations, but ultimately, everyone has to participate in the fight against Zika and ensure that there is no breeding at home, said Minister for Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli on Saturday (Sept 3).  

“The intense operations are targeted at affected sites, then for the rest of the country, we have to ensure that everyone participates and ensure they have no breeding at home. That's the best way to ensure that it does not spread outside,”said Mr Masagos, who was speaking to reporters at Tampines West Community Club after distributing pamphlets on Zika to residents in the area.

The majority of breeding sites continue to be found at homes, he noted. Meanwhile, NEA will continue to conduct regular inspection of common areas and construction sites.

“We have to allocate our resources carefully so that they are effective. We don't want to spread it too thin. We also don't want to create panic that this is something we have to do everywhere around Singapore. So we want to make sure its an effective operation, correct way of doing it,” he added.

For these two weeks, the focus will be on educating Singaporeans on Zika. Hence, there is a two week “Mozzie Wipeout Movement Against Zika' campaign this weekend and next, at 50 constituencies.

Members of Parliament will go around distributing pamphlets and educating residents about the virus. This will include areas such as Toa Payoh, Chua Chu Kang, and Jurong.

“It is a good opportunity to alert our constituents about the need for them to pitch in to keep their homes free from breeding, keep it clean, make sure they also don't litter outside, because sometimes littering will also collect water, said Mr Masagos, noting that mosquitoes have adapted very well to Singapore's environment and know where to find water.

On Saturday morning at Tampines West, about 100 grassroot leaders and community volunteers fanned out across the area to distribute pamphlets to residents.

Meanwhile, the People’s Association (PA) has activated 10,000 grassroots leaders and volunteers across Singapore to step up community efforts to explain and allay concerns about Zika. It has also roped in corporates and Merchants’ Associations to participate in this effort.