Inspired by the Malay word 'Boleh', meaning 'can' or 'possible', the B.O.L.E.H. Project (B40 communities Organising Local Solutions for Environmental Health) was established. The initiative introduces innovative strategies aligned with the World Health Organisation’s Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases and the Ottawa Charter’s health promotion principles.
"By adopting the term ‘Boleh’, we aim to engage the community and rally their support as we guide them in organising local solutions for environmental health. This initiative goes beyond addressing dengue; it also aims to tackle other pressing issues they may face, while promoting overall environmental wellbeing," said Dr Jo Ann Andoy Galvan, B.O.L.E.H. Project Leader and a member of Taylor’s Digital Health and Medical Advancement Impact Lab.
The project began last November within the Rumah Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) Lembah Pantai community, home to 15,000 residents. The community has long partnered with the university in training future doctors through its Community Medicine posting, providing a strong foundation for the implementation of new solutions. Its high population density and proximity to the Klang River, a known mosquito breeding site, make it especially vulnerable to dengue outbreaks.
Thus far, the project has seen Dr Wong Yin How of Taylor’s University’s Digital Health and Medical Advancement Impact Lab leading efforts in environmental health by introducing strategies to reduce human-mosquito interactions. These include installing air curtains at PPR Sri Pantai lift entrances to deter mosquitoes and placing mosquito netting on the first eight floors. His research team is also exploring the use of drones to identify and address breeding sites that are difficult to access manually, such as gutters, rooftop water tanks, tree crevices, and abandoned construction areas. These drones would also deploy larvicides to help control mosquito populations in hard-to-reach zones. Such targeted interventions contribute to long-term improvements in environmental health and reduce the risk of dengue transmission.
"Dengue is closely tied to community behaviours, and eliminating it requires individuals to adopt healthier practices. This behavioural shift depends on building trust and showing genuine care for the community’s wellbeing. The project’s implementers, many of whom are medical professionals, lead with compassion and commitment to lasting change," said Professor Chong Pei Pei, Director of the Digital Health and Medical Advancement Impact Lab. She added that Impact Lab team members Professor Wee Lei Hum, Dr Sapna Shridhar Patil, Professor Wong Eng Hwa, and Professor Priya Madhavan supervise the project while working closely with PPR leaders from four communities in Lembah Pantai. These community leaders are instrumental in promoting positive behavioural changes to prevent dengue within their respective areas.
Empowering these communities also creates opportunities to nurture future global leaders, as students are given the responsibility to lead meaningful initiatives under close mentorship. "Through their involvement in community-based projects, students learn the value of compassion, teamwork and innovation in creating sustainable solutions. This goes beyond solving immediate issues—it prepares our students to respond to future global health challenges with resilience and creativity,” said Dr Galvan.
This vision has inspired young leaders such as Ruthraa Rajandran, Alif bin Azmi, Lim Chen Woon and Ashvinderjit Kaur, who were assigned to the Sri Cempaka, Pantai Ria, Kampung Limau and Sri Pantai communities respectively.
"Working in this community has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. Seeing the tangible changes in their practices gives me a deep sense of purpose. The community looks up to us, and they are so happy to see doctors they admire actively involved and genuinely concerned for their wellbeing. It's this connection that fosters trust and strengthens their commitment to change," said medical graduate Dr Ashvin, reflecting on her two-month experience as one of the project’s research assistants.
The B.O.L.E.H. project, initiated by Prudence Foundation, forms part of the organisation’s wider climate resilience programme. "This initiative stands as a testament to the power of collaboration in building healthier, more resilient communities. Dengue prevention is an increasingly complex challenge in the context of climate change, making sustainable, community-led solutions more important than ever," said Jeffrey Lam Choon Leong, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), PAMB.
