UMT PROMOTES AWARENESS IN CONJUNCTION WITH WORLD MOSQUITO DAY 2025
By Dr. Suzana Misbah
The Faculty of Science and Marine Environment (FSSM), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), collaborated with the Terengganu State Health Department in organizing the 2025 Mosquito Awareness Program at the state level on 6 September 2025, held at the KPKT Hall, Hiliran People's Housing Project (PPR). This program was held in conjunction with World Mosquito Day, commemorating Sir Ronald Ross’s discovery in 1897 of the role mosquitoes play in the transmission of malaria. The observance has since been broadened to raise global awareness about mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis.
The program was co-organized by the Kuala Terengganu District Health Office, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Malaysian Public Health Entomology Association, and the Hiliran PPR Residents Association, Kuala Terengganu. The opening ceremony was officiated by the Terengganu State Health Director, YBhg. Dato’ Dr. Hajah Kasemani Embong.
A total of 56 undergraduate students from the Bachelor of Science (Biological Science) with Honours program under the BIOSIS Biological Sciences Student Club, FSSM UMT—comprising 40 first-year and 16 second-year students—actively participated in organizing the exhibition booths. Various interactive activities were held such as Build Your Own Mosquito Trap, Mosquito Match, Dengue-Free Fishing, and Match the Cycle, which successfully attracted many visitors.
In addition to these activities, the program also featured coloring contests, the 10,000 Steps activity, plogging with the local community, a blood donation drive, an insecticide exhibition by local companies, and a podcast session with invited panelists.
This program not only raised public awareness about the dangers of mosquitoes but also served as a platform for UMT lecturers and students to share knowledge with the community on the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases. Their involvement also indirectly strengthened students' soft skills, communication, and leadership abilities, in line with UMT’s aspiration to produce knowledgeable, caring, and competitive graduates.
The 2025 Mosquito Awareness Program also emphasized elements of sustainability through the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the maintenance of a clean, mosquito-free environment. This approach is hoped to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to community health and well-being.
It is hoped that programs like this will continue in the future as a collaborative initiative between universities, health agencies, and local communities in the joint effort to address vector-borne disease issues and to strengthen public health in the state of Terengganu.
Fakulti Sains dan Alam Sekitar Marin (FSSM), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), telah bekerjasama dengan Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Terengganu dalam menganjurkan Program Kesedaran Nyamuk 2025 peringkat negeri pada 6 September 2025 yang berlangsung di Dewan KPKT, Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) Hiliran. Program ini diadakan bersempena dengan Hari Nyamuk Sedunia bagi memperingati penemuan Sir Ronald Ross pada tahun 1897 mengenai peranan nyamuk dalam penularan penyakit malaria. Sambutan ini kemudiannya diperluaskan untuk meningkatkan kesedaran global tentang penyakit bawaan nyamuk seperti denggi, Zika, chikungunya dan ensefalitis Jepun.
Program ini turut dianjurkan bersama oleh Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Kuala Terengganu, Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, Persatuan Entomologi Kesihatan Awam Malaysia serta Persatuan Penduduk PPR Hiliran, Kuala Terengganu. Majlis perasmian telah disempurnakan oleh Pengarah Kesihatan Negeri Terengganu, YBhg. Dato’ Dr. Hajah Kasemani Embong.
Seramai 56 orang pelajar prasiswazah daripada program Ijazah Sarjana Muda Sains (Sains Biologi) dengan Kepujian di bawah Kelab Pelajar Sains Biologi BIOSIS, FSSM UMT yang terdiri daripada 40 pelajar tahun pertama dan 16 pelajar tahun kedua telah terlibat secara aktif dalam pengendalian reruai pameran. Pelbagai aktiviti interaktif telah dijalankan seperti “Bina Perangkap Nyamuk Anda Sendiri”, “Padanan Nyamuk”, “Memancing Bebas Denggi” dan “Padankan Kitaran” yang berjaya menarik minat ramai pengunjung.
Selain itu, program ini turut menampilkan pertandingan mewarna, aktiviti 10,000 Langkah, plogging bersama komuniti setempat, kempen derma darah, pameran racun serangga oleh syarikat tempatan serta sesi podcast bersama panel jemputan.
Program ini bukan sahaja meningkatkan kesedaran masyarakat tentang bahaya nyamuk, malah menjadi platform kepada pensyarah dan pelajar UMT untuk berkongsi ilmu dengan komuniti mengenai langkah pencegahan penyakit bawaan nyamuk. Penglibatan ini juga secara tidak langsung memperkukuh kemahiran insaniah, komunikasi dan kepimpinan pelajar, selaras dengan aspirasi UMT untuk melahirkan graduan yang berilmu, prihatin dan berdaya saing.