In order to implement the environmental policy of “pollution reduction, ecological conservation, clean neighborhood and LOHAS life”, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), Executive Yuan promoted the project of establishing sustainable quality environmental health from 2009 to 2014 by implementing the system of “environment management of model districts”, and then promoted the project of “building a safe and pleasant neighborhood – Establishing environmentally-friendly urban and rural areas” from 2015 to 2018 to achieve 14 environmental health sustainability indices step by step, improve life quality and home environment nationwide, and create a sustainable, clean, environmentally-friendly neighborhood.
In recent years, the vector potential of mosquitoes that spread dengue fever has changed due to climate change. In 2015 the spread of dengue fever across Kaohsiung City and Tainan City significantly increased the risk of a large-scale outbreak of dengue fever. Therefore, in addition to the ongoing promotion of observation and learning activities for model environment protection districts and environmentally-friendly urban and rural areas, this year has listed prevention and control of dengue fever as another major point of the project. From training seminars on elimination of environmental breeding sources, to practical instruction as feedback to villages and communities. It’s hoped to raise people’s awareness of the importance of cleaning their own environment, and further influence nearby villages and communities, to achieve the goals of conveying concepts and making people follow the examples to improve their awareness of environmental protection.
In terms of the participation results of the environmentally-friendly urban and rural activities conducted in the South District of Tainan City, Baoshan Township of Hsinchu County, and the North District of Hsinchu City. The activities attracted a total of 353 participants from the village and community development associations, township offices and environmental protection agencies, of which 72% were from township offices, villages and communities, and environmental protection agencies. In terms of the promotion of dengue fever control, there were two sessions of training seminars, which attracted a total of 132 participants. In addition to those from central government departments, most of the participants (30%) were from township (city) offices, villages and cleaning squads. In terms of the practical instruction of villages, there were 40 sessions. The targeted audience included the chiefs of villages, heads of neighborhoods, volunteers and village residents, with a total of 2,363 participants coming from 78 villages.
