Army, Health Ministry to hold dengue programme

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Army, Health Ministry to hold dengue programme
The Health Ministry, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Army, is to hold a dengue control programme from October 7 to 13, for the second time this year, targeting schools, religious places, bus depots and commercial establishments.
Coordinator of the National Dengue Control Programme, Dr. Nimalka Pannilahetti, said yesterday (28), that the week was being held to prevent yet another outbreak of dengue this year, following the onset of the North Western monsoons.
Giving a breakdown of the programme scheduled to commence next Thursday (07), she said they would inspect tyre and motor spare parts shops and bus depots on the first day of the dengue control week. House to house inspections, government and private sector institutions, schools and Pre-school premises, marshy and bare lands, would be inspected during the rest of the week, Dr. Pannilahetti said.
Briefing the press on the current epidemiological aspect of dengue in the country, Epidemiologist, Dr. Hasitha Thissera said the total number of patients from January till the last week of September had reached over 30,000, while the number of dengue deaths was 221. Last year there were over 34,000 patients within the same period with over 300 deaths.
However, there has been a drastic reduction in the number of cases being reported within the last few months - The Epidemiology Unit said an average of four hundred patients have been reported during the last few weeks.
He said that what was most important was the diagnosis of the fever before it reached a hemorrhagic state. Patients suffering from fever lasting over two days, should seek medical attention as early as possible from a government doctor. "Once more, we also have a responsibility of creating an awareness regarding dengue and changing our behavioural patterns to prevent dengue from spreading during the monsoon rains," he said.
The Military spokesman, Maj. General Ubhaya Medawala, pledged the Army's fullest support to the dengue control week and the programme itself. The military was bound to assist people even during the time when there was no war in the country. "However, the Army faced several drawbacks in its effort to control dengue during the clearing campaigns carried out in the Western Province due to the lack of support from people. The public failed to continue with clearing programmes initiated by the Army on several occasions, leaving room for it to have to repeat its efforts on many occasions," he said.
The dengue control week co-incides with the Army Day. Maj. Gen. Medawala said they would carry out several dengue control programmes to commemorate the day by building a dengue awareness.
Courtesy: The Island