Pattaya officials kicked off an area-wide campaign to curb the skyrocketing rate of dengue fever in Thailand with a pep rally and cooperative agreement with 41 neighborhood organizations.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, city council members and Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn, president of the Pattaya Tourism and Business Association, led the July 9 event attended by residents, students and village councils. Officials handed out prizes for mosquito-eradication efforts, anti-mosquito artwork and dengue fever slogans.
Representatives from 41 communities, officials from 30 educational institutions and delegates from 33 businesses sign an agreement to eradicate mosquitoes and breeding grounds, plus advertise dengue fever-eradication methods.
Itthiphol and representatives from 41 communities, officials from 30 educational institutions and delegates from 33 businesses also signed an agreement to eradicate mosquitoes and breeding grounds, plus advertise dengue fever-eradication methods.
Dengue outbreaks in Thailand have quadrupled from a year ago, with 62 cases reported in Pattaya alone since January. Nationally, health officials expect up to 120,000 cases and 120 deaths.
Itthiphol presented plaques and cash prizes to neighborhoods actively working to curtail dengue cases in Pattaya. The Chaimongkol Temple community won first place and 5,000 baht in the “No Mosquito Larvae, Free of Dengue” campaign. The Sai neighborhood won 4,000 for second place and the Arunothai community took third and 3,000 baht.
Kids also won cash. In the painting contest, Prathom 6 student Peeraphat won 5,000 baht and first place for “House Breed Love, Not Breed Mosquitoes.” Prathom 6 student Sirayuth Khemthit won second and Prathom 5 student Wanchana Leebumrung took third.
The “Collect All, Not Breed Mosquitoes” slogan contest was won by Seksin Chotichunag of Pattaya School No. 1, who took home 2,000 baht for his motto “Cover standing water to get rid of larva and eradicate mosquitoes.” Pattarawadee Suree of Pattaya School No. 11 took second and Pognsakorn Suthkul of Pattaya School No. 3 won third.
Before closing, officials reminded guests to adhere to the “five Cs” of mosquito eradication: Close utilities, change water, clear larvae from holding tanks, clean homes and clean utilities.
