Managing Mozzies

The Pacific Regional Vector Borne
Disease Project

Teacher's Notes

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Overview

This case study highlights serious public health issues within the Pacific region. It features how the Australian Government is working in partnership with its neighbours in a concerted attempt to prevent and reduce the incidence of vector borne diseases. Student activities are designed as a smorgasbord of approaches. The aim is to enable students in negotiation with teachers to select from a range of methods to grapple with some of the decision making issues involved in such a project.

Level

Middle Secondary

Objectives

Students:

• investigate the relationship between management strategies and problem solving in development
• analyse issues involved in public health decision making
• evaluate and justify a position on the use of context specific resources
• develop values consistent with a commitment to redress disadvantage

Links with nationally-developed statements and profiles Studies of Society and the Environment

• Investigation, Communication and Participation
• Place and Space - Environmental Impact
• Natural and social system - Natural systems

Preparation

• Copies of the Case Study
• Paper and two types of coloured textas or pens
• Multiple overhead transparencies and pens

Procedure

Invite students to form into pairs and brainstorm into a mind map all the information and understandings that they already have about the habitats and behaviours of mosquitoes. Students should use different colours to distinguish between the two areas. Students can share these and add additional information gained from others.

Invite students to read the case study. Pose the following two questions: What are the main factors which allow the spread of vector borne diseases ? What do you think you need to know more about in order to both control and prevent the diseases?

Form the class into small groups. Ask them to imagine that they are a group of Pacific Island and Australian research scientists. As part of the Australian Government's Pacific Regional Vector Borne Disease Project, it is a priority to find out more about the transmission of vector borne diseases. The research team needs to create a data base on the diseases. Decide the types of information the team needs to collect and record over the next 4 years as part of the data base.

Using overheads and overhead pens, present this data base `brief' and justify your inclusions.

* Further information and resources can be obtained from the
Professional Development Providers.

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