TO combat the growing population of rats in the mainland, the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) came up with the ‘Projek Zero Rodent (ZoRo): Rat to Cash 2023’ recently.
The programme, which was also known as ‘Program Penghapusan Tikus Bersama Komuniti’, was a collaboration between MBSP Health Services Department and Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC) Universiti Malaya.
It was held over five days, starting from Jan 31 till Feb 4, and had the participation of the local community along with MBSP and TIDREC UM squads.
According to the information obtained from the MBSP Health Services Department, a total of 221 rats were caught during the programme.
It is learned that ZoRo was held for the very first time and saw an overwhelming response from the public.
The programme will also be expanded to the residential areas and the neighbourhood with stratified buildings through campaigns in the future.
In 2022, according to the data collected by MBSP Health Services Department, some 3,000 to 5,000 rats were caught through inspections and rat-catching activities done on a routine basis and also after complaints were received.
Some 60 people were involved in the programme, including 20 to 30 people from the community, 15 from MBSP and 10 from TIDREC.
It is also learned that the members of the public were rewarded RM3 per rat (dead or alive).
The rats will be also used for research purposes.
Public markets, namely Bagan Ajam Market, Bukit Mertajam Market and Tambun Indah Market, were used as the collection hubs.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix courtesy of MBSP Health Services Department