‘United Against Dengue’ alliance formed against surging cases in Southeast Asia

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in partnership with Takeda Pharmaceuticals, officially launched the United Against Dengue (UAD) alliance Wednesday in response to a rise in dengue cases in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia alone has reported 14,310 cases and 16 deaths so far this year.

UAD, which also includes the independent advocacy group Dengue Prevention Advocacy Malaysia, is founded on three core strategies: educate, advocate and support, Free Malaysia Today reported.

The "educate" strategy is aimed at boosting community resilience by promoting awareness and readiness. This includes running educational campaigns about the disease, training volunteers using the Epidemic Control for Volunteers toolkit, and promoting hygiene practices.

Communities will also benefit from improved monitoring and early intervention protocols to better manage dengue threats.

Under the "advocate" strategy, the goal is to secure long-term dengue prevention by working with policymakers, health care organizations and local groups. The focus is on incorporating dengue prevention into national health policies and encouraging regional cooperation to reinforce public health efforts and create sustainable outcomes.

Lastly, the "support" strategy centers on delivering direct help to individuals and communities affected by dengue. This involves organizing resources and grassroots responses to ensure prompt assistance, lessen the disease’s impact and aid recovery in high-risk areas.