7,669 Cengkareng Families Become 'Mosquito Parents' to Combat Dengue Fever

A significant public health initiative is underway in Cengkareng District, West Jakarta, where 7,669 families have embraced the role of 'Mosquito Parents' (Orang Tua Asuh - OTA). This program involves the implementation of Wolbachia technology, a strategic approach aimed at curbing the spread of Dengue Fever (DBD) within the community.

These participating families are tasked with the crucial responsibility of monitoring containers that house Aedes mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacteria. These mosquitoes, when they reproduce, pass on the Wolbachia, which prevents them from transmitting the dengue virus to humans. The program's rollout across six sub-districts in Cengkareng signifies a community-wide effort to control the disease.

The decision to implement this program in Cengkareng was driven by alarming statistics. As of August 20, 2026, West Jakarta had recorded 1,591 Dengue Fever cases. Cengkareng District alone accounted for the highest number, with 563 cases, resulting in an incidence rate of 96.7 per 100,000 residents. The Kapuk sub-district within Cengkareng reported an even higher rate of 133.6 per 100,000 population.

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This is quite high, especially in Cengkareng District. Therefore, we chose Cengkareng District to be the second implementation area for the Wolbachia program in West Jakarta, after Kembangan District.

This initiative follows a successful pilot in the Kembangan District, where the Wolbachia method reportedly led to a positive reduction in Dengue Fever cases over a two-year period. Health officials express hope that Cengkareng will achieve similar or even faster results, ideally within a year. The program's preparation involved community surveys, extensive socialization, and the careful identification of families willing to host the mosquito egg containers.

The launch event, held at the RPTRA Utama public space in Cengkareng Barat sub-district, marked the official commencement of this large-scale community engagement. By empowering families to actively participate in disease control, the program seeks to create a sustainable and effective strategy against Dengue Fever, a persistent public health challenge in the region.

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Learning from Kembangan District, it took two years to achieve good results. We hope it won't take two years; hopefully, it can be successful within a year.