In order to encourage citizens to acquire the habit of “reducing the number of discarded containers” and to take actions, the Central Epidemic Command Center for Dengue Epidemic (CECC for Dengue Epidemic) launched a one-month long competition in the schools in Tainan and Kaohsiung cities/counties.The goal of the competition was to help teachers and students to become acquainted with ordinary containers (such as bottles and pots) and non-traditional containers (such as canvas and old tires) and to carry out the plan of “reducing the number of discarded containers” in daily life.A total of 107 schools, including 27,113 teachers and students, joined the competition to help control and prevent the spread of dengue fever.To sum up, 222,354 pieces of discarded containers were found and thrown away, thus successfully reducing the transmission of dengue fever in southern Taiwan, said the officials.

On December 22, 2010 CECC held a press conference and an awarding ceremony in Kaohsiung to honor the schools that found and cleaned most discarded containers and hundreds of students who were most active in the campaign.Students received crowns of “Kings of Cleaning” as rewards of their participation and enthusiasm.The prizes went to them to thank them for taking actions at home, in their communities and daily life.

Chang Shang-Chun, the Vice Commander of CECC, attended the awarding ceremony and gave a brief lecture.In his speech, Chang said the prevention and control of dengue fever should start from cleaning the environment of all communities.“Cleaning unused water containers away” is the most practical and fundamental method to reduce the spread of dengue fever.Encouraging schools to participate the competition is to teach all students about the principles of disease prevention; through their actions in daily life, the concept of disease prevention may be deeply-rooted in the youthful mind.Chang said that it is actually not difficult at all to clean and toss away unused water containers.Everyone can do it whenever he/she wants to.It is amazing that one simple, easy action can significantly increase the effectiveness of disease control and prevention.Chang said it was good and meaningful to teach young people to pay attention to their communities and environment and make an effort to protect the public health.

The prize-winning disease control personnel from local health bureaus in Kaohsiung and Tainan shared their experience in dengue fever control and prevention at the ceremony.CECC highly valued the support from all school members.The successful experience of the competition has set up a very good example.In the future, other city/county governments may learn from Kaohsiung and Tainan and promote the campaign of reducing the number of discarded containers in schools and communities.We will be free from the threat of dengue fever if everyone makes cleaning up discarded water containers as a part of his/her daily routine.