The Lautoka City Council (LCC) is working out logistics and a budget for a major clean-up campaign to counter the spike in dengue fever cases announced by the Health Ministry.
Council chief executive officer Mohammed Anees Khan says an announcement will be made once the plans are finalised.
The Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association had written to the council recently requesting spraying in the city’s residential areas after the latest surge in dengue fever cases in the Western Division.
“The council had discussions with the ratepayers association last year and received a request last week,” Mr Khan said.
“The planning was already underway when the request was received and the council will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to make this clean-up a success.”
Mr Khan explained that in a normal year the council conducted up to three campaigns, however, because of the cash flow problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the council deferred the clean-up campaign and opted to provide a 50 per cent subsidy on refuse collection late last year.
He said more than 500 Sugar City residents took advantage of this subsidised campaign by removing trash that could have contributed to mosquito breeding grounds.
