Engaging communities to sustain dengue vector control

Communities play a major role in the success and sustainability of vector control. While coordination among many stakeholders is required, vector control is critically dependent on harnessing local knowledge and skills within communities. Community engagement and mobilization involves working with local residents to improve vector control and build resilience against future disease outbreaks. Where appropriate participatory community-based approaches are in place, communities are supported to take responsibility for and implement vector control. Participatory community-based approaches aim to ensure that healthy behaviours become part of the social fabric and that communities take ownership of vector control at both the intra- and peri-domiciliary levels.