Foundation Features | Mosquito-borne disease prevention, a part of local flood recovery efforts

By Contributed

Feb 2, 2023

Threat: Mosquito-borne diseases in Victoria include the Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Murray Valley Encephalitis virus and Japanese Encephalitis virus. JE and MVE viruses can cause severe illness and death in some people.

Greater Shepparton Foundation builds partnerships and collaborations to connect the needs of the local community with essential resources and skills to tackle and disrupt the cycle of disadvantage. The Foundation Features series will help shine a light on those driving change through innovative initiatives, as well as highlight community organisations that align with the foundation’s purpose.

Greater Shepparton Foundation's Mosquito-Borne Disease Intervention Prevention program launches next week and forms an important part of our community flood recovery efforts.

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This program provides every child attending kindergarten in Greater Shepparton in 2023 in-language information and an insect repellent, to ensure more families in our community are informed and safe from mosquito-borne diseases and their life-long impacts.

After a flood or heavy rainfall, mosquitoes breed in the pools of water left behind.

Mosquito-borne diseases in Victoria include Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Murray Valley Encephalitis virus and Japanese Encephalitis virus. JE and MVE viruses can cause severe illness and death in some people.

When it became evident that mosquito-borne disease was going to be a real issue for our community after the significant flooding and floodwaters not receding for weeks, Greater Shepparton Foundation responded by developing this program alongside our partners to support those most vulnerable in our community.

We know our culturally and linguistically diverse communities, who face language and cultural barriers may not be aware of the dangers of mosquito-borne disease, and not have access to mosquito prevention information like their English-speaking counterparts.

In striving for an inclusive, interconnected community where everybody has an equal opportunity to participate, we at GSF believe it is important that this education extends to everyone in our community.

GSF will be providing not only repellent, but also the information in various languages via video and print to ensures more in our community are able to keep informed and safe from mosquito-borne diseases.

We are working with the community health educators as part of the Wise Well Women program to develop the in-language information that will be distributed via kindergartens and available online via our website and social media, and encourage other local organisations to share this information too.

The information includes flyers and videos outlining the most effective protective measures from mosquito-borne disease and how to use insect repellents safely with children.

This prevention program is supported by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, Pratt Foundation, Wise Well Women and Greater Shepparton City Council.

For more information on GSF’s Mosquito-Borne Disease Intervention Prevention program please visit the ‘Major Projects’ page on our website, www.greatershepparton.foundation

Until next time,

Amanda McCulloch

Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer