BWRR3033 Risk Management A201

MANAGING DENGUE IN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS: UUM’S EXPERIENCE

QUESTIONS

1) What is the peril causing dengue fever?

2) a) State TWO (2) hazards that could increase the loss frequency or severity of
dengue fever.

b) Provide ONE (1) example to describe each hazard mentioned in (a) above and
explain whether the hazard would increase the loss frequency or the loss severity
of dengue fever.

3) a) Provide TWO (2) direct losses associated with dengue fever.

b) Provide TWO (2) indirect losses associated with dengue fever.

4) Did UUM use the following risk management techniques to manage dengue fever?
If yes, describe what has been done by UUM and the expected outcome of using the risk
management technique.

a) Avoidance

b) Prevention

c) Risk reduction

5) Suggest TWO (2) other measures that could be taken by UUM to manage dengue
fever. Then, specify the risk management techniques associated with each of the
measures you have suggested to UUM and explain their respective expected outcomes.

6) Apply domino theory to explain the occurrence of dengue fever.

7) Briefly explain how human behavioural approach proposed by domino theory could be
used to manage dengue fever.

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MANAGING DENGUE IN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS: UUM’S EXPERIENCE

Lim Chee Chee

INTRODUCTION

On 7 January 2019, Dr Wan Zarina Wan Mahmud, the Director of University Health Centre of
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), was sharing the success story of her university in managing
dengue in Sintok campus with a group of medical officers from the University Health Centre of
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). The medical officers from UMT were eager to learn
about UUM’s efforts in managing dengue so that they could use appropriate risk management
techniques to manage dengue at their university. In her briefing, Dr Wan Zarina said “Managing
dengue is not a one-off event. It is a continuous effort and many activities have been organised
by University Health Centre from time to time throughout the year in order to keep dengue under
control.”

Dr Wan Zarina was very proud to share with the medical officers from UMT by saying “UUM’s
greatest achievement in this respect is that it has won two awards and received a total of
RM7,000 as prize money in Dengue-Free Public University 2018 Competition, a competition
jointly organized by Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and
1Malaysia for Youth (IM4U). From the 20 public universities taking part in the competition,
UUM has appeared as the champion and also won the best administration award in managing
dengue. This has made UUM as a role model of dengue-free public university for other
institutions of higher learning in Malaysia.”

She continued to say “Another pleasant surprise is that our teaching case on UUM’s winning
strategies in dengue-free public university competition presented in an international case study
conference recently last month was being selected to receive the outstanding paper award by the
conference organiser. It is hoped that through the use of this case in teaching and learning
processes, the case could help raise the awareness of individuals on dengue prevention.”

Pausing for a while, she said “University Health Centre is not alone in the process of managing
dengue in UUM. The health centre always collaborates with other units such as Unifilm Studio,
Institute of Quality Management, Development and Maintenance Department, Student
Residential Halls and the various Schools in UUM.” Then she started to show the medical
officers from UMT the power point slides that contained the details of what had been done by
University Health Centre in collaboration with other units in managing dengue in UUM.

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STRATEGIES ADOPTED TO MANAGE DENGUE AT UUM SINTOK CAMPUS

Disseminating Relevant Information on Aedes and Dengue

Dengue could cause sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint
pains, skin rashes and bleeding in some cases. The disease was caused by mosquito-borne virus
infection from four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes, namely DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and
DENV-4. Armed with the above knowledge, UUM focused on the root cause of the disease
specifically the primary mosquito vector responsible for transmitting dengue, i.e. Aedes aegypti.
Hence, the dissemination of relevant information about Aedes and dengue was a strategy used by
UUM in its efforts to manage dengue. For this purpose, University Health Centre had organized
various awareness-raising activities, such as public talks and exhibitions, for campus community
and the general public around the campus to disseminate information on the danger of Aedes and
the diseases it could bring along.

On a regular basis, University Health Centre conducted briefing sessions at the various units in
UUM to raise the awareness of staff and students on the danger of Aedes and dengue. Other than
briefing sessions targeting at a big group of people, the health centre also provided briefing
sessions on a one to one basis for individuals upon their request. Besides briefings, pertinent
information about Aedes and dengue was also being channeled via email and social media.

Organizing Training Sessions Providing Hands-on Exercises

UUM strongly believed in ‘practice makes perfect’. Hence, the University Health Centre had
organized training sessions to show the participants (campus community) the characteristics of
Aedes, its habitats and ways to get rid of Aedes completely. The training sessions also taught the
participants how to keep away from being bitten by Aedes so that they would not be infected by
dengue fever. To provide hands-on exercises, the University Health Centre had launched a
Search and Destroy Campaign. In this campaign, the doctors from University Health Centre
coached the participants to search and identify the potential breeding areas of Aedes. Then, the
doctors demonstrated to the participants the ways to destroy these areas. Subsequent to the hands-
on exercises, some participants were selected to form dengue patrol teams to perform dengue
control activities on a weekly basis at their respective units.

Performing Regular Cleanliness Activities

UUM always held on to the principle of ‘prevention is better than cure’ when dealing with health
issues. As routine activities, the University Health Centre would conduct fogging at Student
Residential Halls, especially in the toilets, two times in a year before the start of a new semester
in February and September. Fogging was performed so that it could destroy mosquito larva,
especially in toilets when the toilets had been not in use for months during the semester breaks.
When the semester had started, the scheduling of regular clean-up of pipes in the toilets to clear

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blockages would be arranged by the Development and Maintenance Department and the
management office of each Student Residential Hall to ensure smooth flows of water. As such
this could ensure no built-up of stagnant water that would become the potential breeding areas
for mosquitoes. Other than the above activities, cleanliness campaigns called Gotong-Royong
were held from time to time throughout the year at Student Residential Halls and at academic
buildings to keep the environments clean.

Being Attentive for Signs of Dengue on High Fever Patients

University Health Centre had been attentive for signs of dengue when the patients sought for
treatment at its outpatient clinic. When a patient was suspected of contracting dengue, as a
precautionary measure, the patient would be required to undergo a blood test for confirmation of
his/her health condition. If the blood test confirmed that it was a dengue case, prompt actions
could be taken by University Health Centre to provide the patient with appropriate medical
treatments to reduce his/her sufferings and to conduct fogging at places suspected to be the
origin of dengue outbreak in order to contain its spread.

Participating in Dengue-Free Public University 2018 Competition

UUM had participated in Dengue-Free Public University 2018 Competition along with the other
20 Malaysian public universities. The selection of winning public universities was based on
established assessment criteria: (i) the university’s administration in managing dengue, (ii) the
cleanliness of the university’s environments at five locations, namely administration buildings,
academic buildings, student residential halls, staff quarters and open fields, (iii) the university’s
awareness programs on dengue prevention, and (iv) the university’s innovation and creativity in
dengue prevention.

Dengue-Free Public University 2018 Competition offered three different categories of awards,
namely (i) the awards for the best dengue-free public university with monetary rewards of
RM5,000, RM3,000 and RM2,000 respectively for each winning university at the first, second
and third places, and also the consolation prizes of RM1,000 each for two universities, (ii) a
special award with a prize money of RM2,000 for the best administration in managing dengue,
and (iii) a special award with a prize money of RM2,000 for the best innovation and creativity in
dengue prevention. From this competition, UUM had won two awards clinging the first place for
the best dengue-free public university with a monetary reward of RM5,000 and the best
administration award in managing dengue with a prize money of RM2,000.

On 7 July 2018, Dr Wan Zarina representing UUM Vice-Chancellor had attended the prize-
giving ceremony of Dengue-Free Public University 2018 Competition at Kampung Sungai Kayu
Ara Primary Religious School, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya to receive a total of RM7,000 of
prize money. This was the proud moment of the university as UUM has set itself as a role model
of dengue-free public university for other institutions of higher learning in Malaysia.

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Although UUM did not manage to gain the award of the best innovation and creativity in dengue
prevention, the university had tried to be creative in managing dengue:
 UUM had drafted a risk management policy statement in making the campus an Aedes-Free
Zone. (Refer to Exhibit-1).
 UUM had designed an eye-catching logo of ‘#UUMZeroAedes’ to urge the campus
community to work closely with the university in conjunction with the university’s
participation in Dengue-Free Public University 2018 Competition. (Refer to Exhibit-2).
 UUM had taken the initiative to prepare a self-audit checklist for the use of dengue patrol
teams to record dengue control activities. (Refer to Exhibit-3). The self-audit checklist was
an output of the collaboration between University Health Centre and Institute of Quality
Management.
 UUM had recorded a video called Kalaulah Aku Sedar (If I was Aware) to highlight the
danger of Aedes and the severe consequences of contracting dengue. (Refer to Exhibit-4).
The video was a product of the joint effort between University Health Centre and Unifilm
Studio. The video could be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/officialpkuuum/videos/
244189102926709/.
 UUM had composed a song called UUM Bebas Aedes (UUM Free from Aedes). (Refer to
Exhibit-5). This song was a product of the collaboration between University Health Centre
and Arts and Culture Centre. The song could be listened to at https://www.facebook.
com/officialpkuuum/videos/1932337820172730/.

Documenting UUM’s Experience of Managing Dengue as a Teaching Case

Apart from following the conventional ways of managing dengue, UUM had tried a new way of
managing dengue by disseminating relevant information about Aedes and dengue through the
collaboration between University Health Centre and College of Business in documenting UUM’s
winning strategies in Dengue-Free Public University 2018 Competition as a teaching case and
presenting it in an international case study conference in December 2018. From this conference,
the teaching case was among the five cases being selected to receive the outstanding paper
awards conferred by the conference organiser. As the case was meant to be used in teaching and
learning purposes, so the case could help raise the awareness of individuals on dengue
prevention.

CONCLUSION

Towards the end of the briefing to the medical officers from UMT, Dr Wan Zarina concluded by
saying, “The University Health Centre’s efforts in managing dengue are fully supported by the
university’s top management from the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Registrar,
Assistant Vice-Chancellors and the Directors of the various units in UUM. UUM is committed
and the awards conferred to UUM are an acknowledgement towards its efforts in managing
dengue. These awards will certainly motivate UUM to achieve a higher level of excellence in
managing dengue in the future.”

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EXHIBITS

Exhibit-1 : University Policy − UUM an Aedes-Free Zone

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Exhibit-2 : Logo − UUM Zero Aedes

#uumzeroaedes

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Exhibit-3 : Self-Audit Checklist to Record Dengue Control Activities

WEEKLY REPORT ON DENGUE CONTROL ACTIVITIES AT UUM
Student Residential Hall / Dept / Unit : Month :

Week
Potential
Breeding Example Action
No.
Area 1 2 3 4

1 Dining Area / Cafeteria

2 Toilet

3 Drain

4 Waste Disposal Area / 3R Collection Area

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5 Office Surrounding

6 Recreational Park

7 Common Area in Student Residential Hall / Staff Housing

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8 Open Area Outside of Building

Remark:

No. of dengue cases (if any): ……………………..

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Exhibit-4 : Video on Dengue

Title : Kalaulah Aku Sedar

Director : Ismansor Akhmar Ismail
Script Writer : Musyaznie Mokhtar
Artists : Ahmad Akmal Fahmi bin Ahmad Termizi
Razneer bin Rakhizi
Muhamad Hanif bin Abd Rahim
Mohamad Nur Firdaus bin Kamaaripin
Nurizzati Mohd Razali
Putri Nur Aimi Zafira Azman Putra
Dr. Nor Saleha Jamil
Aida Abdul Jalil
Nurul Huda Mat Saman
Producer : UUM Uniflim Studio

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Exhibit-5 : Song on Dengue

Title : UUM Bebas Aedes

Composer : Mohammad Haris Abd Azis
Lyric Writer : Mohammad Haris Abd Azis
Singer : Sukina Md Arif
Producer : UUM Arts and Culture Centre

UUM Bebas Aedes

Penyakit denggi penyakit berjangkit

Sakit yang membawa maut
Sehingga kini tiada vaksin
Untuk mengubati penyakit ini

Penyakit denggi tidak mengenal

Orang dewasa serta kanak-kanak
Berwaspadalah kita semua
Dari gigitan nyamuk Aedes

Cegahan dan kawalan

Langkah yang bijaksana
Amalan kesihatan
Mengurangkan risiko … jangkitan

Sebarkanlah maklumat
Berikanlah didikan
Wujudkan persekitaran
Yang bersih dan selamat
Agar bebas denggi

UUM bebas dari denggi

UUM bebas dari denggi
UUM bebas dari denggi

UUM Bebas Denggi

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REFERENCES

Chart on Services Provided by University Health Centre. Retrieved from http://www.medic.uum.

edu.my/index.php/about-us/carta-perkhidmatan.

Education and Health Promotion Unit of University Health Centre. Retrieved from
http://www.medic.uum.edu.my/index.php/profil/unit-kesihatan-persekitaran/unit-promosi-
kesihatan.

Environmental Health Division of University Health Centre. Retrieved from

http://www.medic.uum.edu.my/index.php/profil/unit-kesihatan-persekitaran.

Organizational Chart of University Health Centre. Retrieved from http://www.medic.uum.edu.

my/index.php/about-us/carta-organisasi.

Song on UUM Bebas Aedes. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/officialpkuuum/videos/

1932337820172730/.

Vector Control Unit of University Health Centre. Retrieved from http://www.medic.uum.

edu.my/index.php/profil/unit-kesihatan-persekitaran/unit-kawalan-vektor.

Video on Kalaulah Aku Sedar. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/officialpkuuum/

videos/2441891 02926709/.

What is Dengue? Retrieved from http://denggi.myhealth.gov.my/what-is-dengue/?lang=en.

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