Project Wolbachia 10th Anniversary Community Carnival

1. A very good morning. I am delighted to join all of you here today at Our Tampines Hub to commemorate 10 years of Project Wolbachia.

2. Ten years ago, Tampines West was one of the three pioneer sites where we first released our male Wolbachia-Aedes mosquitoes. The three sites were Tampines West, Yishun and Braddell Heights. What started as a small-scale research project has, over the past decade, grown into an important part of Singapore's dengue control strategy. Today, Project Wolbachia covers more than 840,000 households, or more than half of all households in Singapore, including most areas at risk of large dengue outbreaks. It is therefore particularly meaningful to return to Tampines today to commemorate our 10th anniversary milestone with the community.

Building the project carefully, step by step with partners

3. Back in 2016, Project Wolbachia was still an exploratory research project. While the science behind Wolbachia showed great promise, there were many challenges we had to overcome. We needed to understand how the technology would perform in our local context, and develop ways to implement it safely, reliably and at scale in Singapore's unique high-rise urban environment. Just as importantly, we needed to build public trust and support for this novel approach to fighting dengue.

4. These were not easy challenges to overcome. Thankfully, NEA did not have to tackle them alone. Over the past decade, we have been privileged to work with many brilliant scientists and institutions, both locally and internationally, whose expertise and collaboration helped us strengthen the scientific evidence behind Project Wolbachia. Our technical and industry partners have also played an important role in developing innovative technologies, processes and operational capabilities that enabled the programme to grow. To all our partners, thank you for your unwavering support and for being part of this remarkable journey.

From Research to Impact

5. Ten years on, our efforts are bearing fruit, and we are seeing the tangible benefits of Project Wolbachia. In a major study published earlier this year in The New England Journal of Medicine, one of the world's leading medical journals, we reported that releases of male Wolbachia-Aedes mosquitoes reduced the Aedes aegypti mosquito population by 80 to 90 per cent in our release areas. More importantly, this translated into a 70 per cent reduction in dengue risk among residents in these areas — a significant step forward in our efforts to protect communities from dengue.

6. Here in Tampines, we have also seen very encouraging progress. During the major dengue outbreak in 2020, Tampines recorded almost 1,200 dengue cases. Last year, this fell to just 77 cases. Of course, dengue cases fluctuate from year to year, but this is an encouraging sign that our sustained efforts to protect our communities are making a very real difference.

Community Matters

7. We have science and technology to thank. We have our businesses and scientific partners to thank. But we owe much of our success and progress to the partnerships that we have with our grassroots movement and our residents. When we first shared that we wanted to release more mosquitoes into your neighbourhood to fight dengue, can you imagine? Ten years ago, that was the first thing we said. We wanted to release more mosquitoes into an area that already had problems with dengue. Many of you had questions and concerns, and rightly so. But you took the time to engage with us, listened to our explanations, and after a lot of dialogue and back and forth, gave this new approach a chance. Along the way, you also shared valuable feedback that helped us refine the programme. Thank you for keeping an open mind, for placing your trust in us, and for being part of this journey.

8. We do not take this support for granted. We know that residents may notice more mosquitoes during releases and have questions. Through public engagement by our grassroots volunteers and grassroots movement, our residents now understand that these male Wolbachia-Aedes mosquitoes do not bite or spread diseases, and that their release helps to reduce dengue risk. As you can see, even our children are helping to spread these messages in different ways. Our residents understand the programme and are supportive of its continuation. This is not just what we believe; our surveys and data show that residents are increasingly supportive of the Wolbachia programme.

Not a Silver Bullet

9. Even as we commemorate this special milestone, we must remember that Project Wolbachia is not a silver bullet. While it is an important part of our overall defence against dengue, it does not replace the need for everyone to remain vigilant. Dengue prevention remains a shared responsibility. We must continue to do our part to keep our homes and neighbourhoods free of mosquito breeding sites, so that we can sustain the progress we have made.

10. It is also important to remember that Project Wolbachia specifically targets Aedes aegypti, the mosquito species responsible for spreading dengue in Singapore. As you will discover at the exhibition booths today, Singapore is home to many different mosquito species, some of which can also transmit diseases like dengue, Zika and chikungunya. In fact, when our officers investigate feedback about mosquito bites in Wolbachia release areas, they sometimes find breeding sites of other mosquito species. This is why we must not let our guard down. By keeping our homes, surroundings and neighbourhoods free of stagnant water, we can prevent mosquitoes from breeding and protect ourselves, our families and neighbours.

Passing the message

11. As we look to the future, we must also inspire the next generation to play their part in the fight against dengue. In this spirit, I am pleased to launch a new children's storybook, "Kai's Tiny Adventure with Wozzie". Wozzie is our friendly Project Wolbachia mascot, the big green mascot that you saw earlier. Through Wozzie and his friends, we hope that our young ones will discover the fascinating science behind Project Wolbachia, and more importantly, learn that they too can make a difference in keeping our communities safe from dengue. I also hope that we can inspire some of them to become scientists and join us at NEA. The storybook will be available at our public libraries, and I encourage children and families to stay on for the storytelling session later. I hope our young readers will enjoy following Kai and Wozzie on their adventure!

Closing: Ten years on, the next chapter begins

12. As we enter the next chapter, we will continue to build on the progress we have made. We will invest in improving our technologies and capabilities, and find more efficient and effective ways to sustain the programme's public health benefits. Our approach will continue to be guided by science. We will closely monitor mosquito populations and dengue risk, refine our strategies, and focus on our resources where they can make the greatest difference in protecting our communities.

13. Ten years ago, Tampines helped Singapore take its first steps in testing a promising new idea. Today, that idea is not only helping to protect communities across Singapore but is also contributing to the global fight against dengue. The World Health Organization is reviewing the growing body of scientific evidence on Wolbachia approaches, including lessons from Singapore, as it develops future guidance for countries. What began as just an experimental research project has grown into an important public health intervention, with the potential to benefit communities well beyond our shores. What started in Tampines ten years ago will influence guidance for countries around the world and make a difference to public health interventions around the world.

14. This achievement belongs to everyone who has been part of the Project Wolbachia journey – our scientists, technical and industry partners, grassroots leaders, and most importantly, our residents here in Tampines and across Singapore. Together, we have shown how scientific innovation, perseverance, community engagement and trust can make a real difference in protecting our communities. Let us carry this same spirit into the next chapter of Project Wolbachia, as we continue our fight against dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.

15. Thank you for your trust, your partnership and your continued support over the past ten years. I wish everyone a great time at today's party. Thank you all very much.