Low-income households in the Central Singapore District now have help to put their bed bug problems to bed once and for all, under a new $300,000 initiative launched on Saturday.

Called Project We Care - Stop Bed Bugs @ Central Singapore, the initiative is organised and funded by the People's Association's Project We Care - a corporate volunteerism programme with 87 companies on board - and the Central Singapore Community Development Council. Over the next three years, 550 identified homes in the area will be fumigated and cleaned and their mattresses and bed frames replaced where needed.

On Saturday morning, volunteers from companies and the public helped to clean up the first 15 homes in preparation for fumigation. Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing said it was "heartwarming" to see both public and private sectors as well as individuals taking part in the initiative.