United Against Dengue: Regional alliance targets rising threat

With dengue cases on the rise across Asia due to climate change, urbanisation, and population growth, a new regional initiative has been launched to bolster prevention and response efforts. In conjunction with ASEAN Dengue Day, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Asia Pacific and pharmaceutical company Takeda introduced United Against Dengue (UAD)—a multi-year collaboration aimed at strengthening community resilience and advancing sustainable solutions to combat the mosquito-borne disease.

“Through UAD, we aim to empower communities across Asia and beyond to take charge of their health and unite against dengue,” said Juja Kim, Deputy Regional Director for Asia Pacific, IFRC. “Our focus is clear – to educate communities, advocate for sustainable dengue prevention measures, and support affected individuals and communities with care and assistance.”

Dion Warren, Area Head of India & Southeast Asia (I-SEA), Takeda, emphasised the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation: “Joining forces with IFRC, we aim to strengthen the foundation of community resilience by advancing disease literacy, enhancing early action capabilities, and empowering local health systems.”

Three-pillar strategy

UAD is structured around three strategic pillars—Educate, Advocate, and Support:

• Educate: The initiative aims to build disease awareness and early preparedness through community campaigns, volunteer training using the Epidemic Control for Volunteers (ECV) toolkit, and hygiene promotion. Surveillance and early action protocols will also be introduced to improve community responses.
• Advocate: UAD will work closely with policymakers, health professionals, and civil society to embed dengue prevention into national public health strategies. By aligning stakeholders at both national and regional levels, the initiative seeks to reinforce sustainable and long-term policy changes.
• Support: Immediate and practical support will be provided to individuals and communities affected by dengue. This includes assistance during outbreaks and recovery, with an emphasis on adaptability to evolving health needs.

Kickstarting its educational efforts, UAD has partnered with The Woke Salaryman to launch a comic series that explores how urbanisation affects community ties and dengue risk. Initially released in English, the series will soon be available in Bahasa Melayu, French, and Spanish through IFRC’s channels, expanding its impact across linguistic and geographic boundaries.

Rising dengue burden

Dengue is now endemic in over 100 countries, with Asia accounting for approximately 70% of global cases. In Malaysia alone, the Ministry of Health’s iDengue dashboard recorded 14,310 dengue cases and 16 deaths as of 24 March 2025. Experts warn that achieving the regional target of zero preventable dengue deaths by 2030 will require more coordinated and integrated responses.

“Everyone has a role to play in the fight against dengue,” said Dr Deepa Gamage, Public Health Specialist at the WHO Representative Office for Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore. “UAD exemplifies the power of collaboration and community engagement. Together, we believe we can make zero preventable deaths by 2030 possible.”

Prof. Datuk Dr. Zulkifli Ismail, Chairman of Asia Dengue Voice and Action (ADVA) and Dengue Prevention Advocacy Malaysia, echoed the call for united efforts: “Dengue continues to pose a significant public health threat across Asia. Cross-sector collaboration will continue to be crucial for driving progress and protecting vulnerable populations. UAD reflects a clear intent to catalyse collaborative efforts in dengue prevention and management.”

The United Against Dengue initiative will continue to roll out across Asia and expand beyond the region. Additional local and regional programs are in development to strengthen public awareness and facilitate better preparedness.

By bridging governments, NGOs, medical societies, and communities, the UAD collaboration aims to deliver scalable, long-term solutions to one of Asia’s most pressing public health concerns.

For more information, visit: https://www.ifrc.org/article/ifrc-and-takeda-initiate-united-against-dengue-alliance-combat-escalating-threat-mosquito