On October 4, 2024, the Indonesian Ministry of Health, through its Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control, in partnership with the Provincial Government of, launched an innovative dengue control initiative using Wolbachia technology. The launch event took place at Taman Agro Eduwisata GSG RW 07 in Kembangan Utara, Kembangan Subdistrict, West Jakarta.

West Jakarta, particularly Kembangan Subdistrict, was selected as the initial release site for Wolbachia-infected Aedes mosquitoes in Jakarta due to its high dengue incidence rate of 54.1 cases per 100,000 residents in 2023. Known for their close-knit, collaborative community, the residents have embraced the Wolbachia project as a forward-thinking approach to reducing dengue cases.

To date, Kembangan Utara is home to over 1,185 “Foster Parents”—community members who play a crucial role in maintaining containers of Wolbachia-infected mosquito eggs, ensuring the project’s sustained impact.

For Yayasan Tahija, this initiative, aligned with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health Decree No. 1341 of 2022, is a significant contribution to improving the nation’s health and welfare. Now expanding to five key cities—West Jakarta, Semarang, Bandung, Kupang, and Bontang—the project represents an important step toward a healthier Indonesia.