Minister of Culture Olivia Grange, has hailed volunteers across the island who are participating in the three-day national dengue clean up activity.

The national clean up, from January 24 to 26, is being held under the theme: “mosquitoes wanted dead, not alive!”

Ms. Grange thanked volunteers who worked yesterday, the first day of the national clean up, for their effort towards protecting schools and business places across the island against the mosquitoes that spread dengue.

She said the level of participation in the clean up activity shows that more Jamaicans are beginning to understand that dengue is a serious disease can affect everyone.

Grange said the activities over the three days must be treated as a launch because the fight against mosquitoes will continue beyond this weekend.

She said government made the decision to carry the theme through to Labour Day, coming up in May.

The minister was speaking at the New Day primary and junior high school in St. Andrew where Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, officially launched the cleanup campaign this morning.

Holness participated in the search for and destruction of mosquito breeding sites in the grants pen community.

The Prime Minister also participated in the treatment of water containing mosquito larvae, and covered water storage container with nets.

He was accompanied by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton and Opposition Spokesman on Health Dr. Morais Guy, who represented the Leader of the Opposition.