Agents of Peace take part in the campaign "Everyone Against Dengue"

March 7, 2009

Bolivia has been facing the worst epidemic of dengue fever in its history, and the most affected town is Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Dengue is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito and is presented in two forms, classic dengue fever and hemorrhagic dengue fever. The latter can lead to death if not treated in time.

This year, around 50,000 cases of people infected in Bolivia were reported, out of which 21 people died of hemorrhagic dengue so far. In Santa Cruz de la Sierra, hundreds of patients come daily to medical centers, to the hospital system.

Therefore, the city government launched the campaign "All against Dengue" and declared a civic parade on Saturday, March 7, for the people to clean the city and eliminate the breeding focuses of the mosquitoes transmitting the virus. AMISRAEL joined forces by recruiting 150 volunteers among the agents of peace, to do the work of raising people’s awareness on the outskirts of the city.

The cleaning journey was started on Friday, March 6, and continued on Saturday in several areas of the city, collecting objects and tires that accumulate water, to avoid forming the breeding focuses for the mosquito.

The representative of the city hall, Ybanciti Ortega, thanked AMISRAEL for their significant work in favor of society. "I thank the agents of peace and to Dr. Joel Lara, for the initiative of eradicating this threat that wants to ravage our city ... Thank you on behalf of the Municipality of Santa Cruz” he expressed.

Text: Alcira Molina
Edition: Gabriela Lara
English Version: Patrícia Mamede
Photographs: Remberto Flores

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