2019 has been marked by the largest dengue outbreaks in history with Myanmar one of the worst hit countries in the world, with over 40 thousand cases. This the first time a DHF epidemic spread out from Yangon and urban centers to afflict the rural population with a similar intensity—with the initial outbreak in the historic capital in the south, Yangoon, though the Irrawaddy River Valley to mountainous Kachin State bordering China’s Yunnan.

Collaborating with an International team of researchers GHGI will lead the development and implementation research component for a novel dengue hemorrhagic fever control project linking middle schools, households and communities focused on local capacity. Called MySchool the effort is unique in its approach to bridging the health and education sectors in a pilot effort aimed to stimulate innovative health education methods, linking classrooms and students households and neighborhoods.

The project, made possible with support from Research Council of Norway through the Norwegian Life Sciences University. The project is partnering with Myanmar Ministry of Health and and Sports and the Ministry of Education. GHGI’s Parichat Saenna, whose education research in rural SE Asia has led to new insights place-based education linking classrooms and the communities, is co-leading the implementation design for the education component.