WAILUKU >> A workshop is scheduled Monday in East Maui to recruit workers to eradicate invasive weeds and breeding areas for mosquitos that may carry dengue fever. Maui recruits dengue
fever fightersThe state is hiring people from the
ranks of the unemployed to
battle the diseaseStar-Bulletin staff
The workshop takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Hana Community Center.
Under the state Emergency Environmental Workforce Program enacted this year, about 220 to 250 residents are to be employed in environmental and health work statewide, including about 100 people in Maui County.
The intent of the program is to offer temporary employment to those adversely affected by a slumping economy after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the East Coast.
County economic development coordinator Rosalyn Baker said officials are focusing on hiring in East Maui because of the need to control dengue fever and the infestation of the weed Miconia calvescens.
As of Wednesday there have been 87 confirmed cases of dengue fever in the state since June 10, with 64 on Maui, 18 on Oahu and five on Kauai.
Dengue fever is transmitted by mosquitos, and the state's effort to fight the disease has centered on eradicating mosquito breeding areas.
Maui County spokeswoman Karlynn Kawahara said to apply for the positions, persons must be unemployed, have a high school diploma and have some related work experience. The positions are temporary, with employment beginning in December and ending three months later.
About $1.5 million has been released for the Emergency Environmental Workforce Program, initiated by state Sen. J. Kalani English and state Rep. Brian Schatz.
Applications for the jobs may be obtained at the state Workforce Development Division on Maui and several other islands and the Rural Development Project office on Lanai.