Two of our YEGs Jian Hao and Srisakvarakul Chaiyakorn, were involved in the video filming for Chikungunya Highlight on the 26 June 2008, Thursday at 2.30pm (Little India) & 27 June 2008, Friday at 1.15pm (Environment Health Institute).
The first Chikungunya case in Singapore this year was detected on 14 January 2008. A total of 12 cases were later confirmed in the Little India area. Investigations from Ministry of Health revealed that the “foreign national" who contracted the fever have not traveled out of Singapore for several months, Thus confirming that the Chikungunya cases were locally transmitted.
The first person the YEG interviewed was Damian Lee, Executive, NEA CRO. Since the Chikungunya outbreak at Little India, NEA has also been conducting intensive search and destroy operations beyond Clive Street. which are bounded by Rochor Road, Race Course Road, Lavender Street and Jalan Besar, to remove mosquito breeding habitats. As at 6 February 2008, Some 20 NEA officers and 15 pest control operators were mobilized to work in the area. More than 4,800 inspections have been conducted and a total of 77 breedings have been detected and destroyed.
Mr Nordin. He is the sanitation and vector control (SVC) manager from National Environment Agency Central Regional Office who is in charge of Jalan Besar area.
Some of the NGOs like Little India Shopowners & Heritage Association (LISHA) also play a key role to assist government agencies’ fight against Chikungunya. Mr Rajakumar Chandra is the chairman of LISHA which played a key role to assist government agencies’ fight against Chikungunya during the outbreak
Later they went to the Environment Health Institute to interview the Head of Environmental Health Institute, Dr Ng Lee Ching.
In Singapore, when the number of Chikungunya cases increased in January, the Ministry of Health and the Environmental Health Institute started to screen residents and workers in the popular Little India enclave. Since 14 January 2008, it was estimated that a total of 2,626 people were screened.
It was an enriching and fulfilling experience doing the video.
This video clip will be showcased at the 4th Public Health Forum (organised jointly by NEA-Central Regional Office & Central Singapore CDC) on the 31 July 2008