Women are leading the fight against dengue in Tarakan City, Indonesia by tailoring mosquito nets to cover open water storage containers. These nets are cutting off access to potential breeding grounds and improving the community’s health.

Fast facts:

• Up to 750 women have been directly impacted by this activity.

The problem

Landslides, floods and a chronic low water supply have racked Taraken City. This lack of water is causing people to store their water in open containers, which is causing an increase in mosquito breeding grounds. The mosquitos, which spread dengue infection, are finding these open containers and breeding in them, increasing the rate of dengue infection in the area.

The solution

Women are disseminating knowledge about dengue and tailoring plastic nets to fit open containers, blocking mosquitoes access to potential breeding ground. This simple technology is environmentally friendly and cost effective. Women are mobilizing communities to produce, install, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the nets. Selling the nets is increasing women’s incomes while at the same time promoting healthy behavior and practices.

Helping the planet

The plastic nets are an environmentally friendly alternative to larvacides.

Helping people

This activity is increasing the city’s resilience to the effects of climate change. It is expected that the local community will gain a better awareness about dengue and how to prevent it.

Scaling Up

This activity has the potential to grow in size and benefit more people.

Images owned by the activity partners, all rights reserved.