Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has today launched the Fight the Bite and Clean Up Fiji National Campaigns in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Bainimarama says the clean up campaign will involve all the ministries, pooling their resources to clean up Fiji.
He appeals to every Fijian to join the government in cleaning up the country.
Bainimarama says we should ensure that we remove all cyclone related debris and all rubbish that has accumulated over the years.
He says this has created a negative image of Fiji.
Bainimarama has also called on everyone to join forces to get rid of all mosquito breeding places.
He says never before have the stakes been so high.
Bainimarama says we have always had dengue but we now have chikungunya and a new threat, Zika.
The Prime Minister says it is of the highest national importance that we minimize the risk of the Zika virus spreading.
It is an infection that has been linked to babies being born with underdeveloped brains, and Bainimarama says we need to eradicate any mosquitos that may be carrying it with a concerted national effort to eradicate their breeding grounds.
He says people need to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by wearing long, loose and light clothing, to sleep with the windows shut or use mosquito nets, and to use an insect repellent.
Bainimarama says this is a war that we have to win and he has also called for the children and young people of Fiji to join in this fight to destroy all mosquito breeding places.
Since last month, major clean-ups have commenced in the Western and Northern divisions.
In the Western Division, 261 loads of rubbish have so far been collected from more than 60 communities stretched over the four subdivisions.
In the Northern Division, 30 loads have been collected so far from the three subdivisions.
