Dengue Cases Still High, Community-Based Prevention Efforts Strengthened

Illustration of dengue. (Freepik)

JAKARTA - Prevention of dengue fever (DBD) is still a health challenge in many countries, including Indonesia.

Efforts to control this disease not only depend on medical treatment, but also on preventive measures such as controlling mosquitoes that carry the virus, increasing public awareness, and involving various parties in strengthening community resilience against infectious diseases.

Amid the increasing attention on dengue control, a number of health and humanitarian organizations launched an initiative entitled "United Against Dengue: Strengthening Partnerships for Dengue Prevention and Improving Community Resilience" in Indonesia.

This program is part of efforts to strengthen preventive measures, preparedness, and education of the community regarding the disease.

This initiative is a continuation of the United Against Dengue (UAD) program which was previously launched at the regional level in June 2025. Indonesia became the first country to implement the initiative at the national level with a community-based approach.

Dengue disease is still a global health threat. World Health Organization (WHO) data shows that in 2024 there were around 14.6 million cases of dengue with more than 12,000 deaths worldwide.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, BPJS Health data recorded more than 1 million cases of hospitalization due to dengue in 2024, with an estimated economic burden reaching almost Rp3 trillion. These figures show the magnitude of the impact of this disease on society and the health system.

President Director of PT Takeda Innovative Medicines, Andreas Gutknecht, said that efforts to combat dengue require the involvement of various parties so that prevention can run more effectively.

"Through the United Against Dengue alliance, we want to encourage the strengthening of prevention efforts through education that reaches various elements of society and communities in Indonesia together with related stakeholders. We hope that this joint commitment can strengthen community-level action in the face of the threat of DBD that occurs throughout the year," he said.

Strengthening Partnership for Dengue Prevention and Improving Community Resilience in Indonesia. (Dinno/VOI)

The program is designed to support dengue prevention efforts through various approaches, ranging from increasing public awareness, strengthening community involvement, to the use of innovations in disease control.

The representative of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for the ASEAN region, Kathryn Clarkson, assessed that strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation is important to increase the public's health resilience to dengue.

"We appreciate the commitment of various parties in efforts to prevent dengue. Through this initiative, we strive to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration by involving the government, humanitarian organizations, the private sector, and the community to encourage sustainable prevention efforts," he said.

He added that the network of Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations in various countries, including volunteers at the community level, have an important role in increasing public awareness and preparedness for dengue risk.

Meanwhile, the Head of Health and Social Affairs of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), Prof. Dr. dr. Fachmi Idris, M.Kes, assessed that efforts to control infectious diseases require the involvement of various parties in order to provide a wider impact for the community.

"PMI believes that multi-stakeholder collaboration is important so that the benefits can be optimally felt by the community. This initiative is part of PMI's commitment to continue to contribute to supporting public health agendas and strengthening community resilience against infectious disease risks," he said.

He also said that the program was in line with the national dengue control strategy implemented by the government, where PMI played a role as a partner in supporting the implementation of the program at the community level.

The launch of this initiative was also attended by representatives from various ministries and agencies, including the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, BMKG, and WHO Indonesia.

Regionally, United Against Dengue is a multi-year initiative in the Asia-Pacific region that aims to strengthen dengue prevention and management efforts. This program supports the WHO and ASEAN targets to reduce preventable dengue deaths to zero by 2030.