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by Fathima Razik

The mosquito is a menace - but the attitude of the general public with regard to taking the necessary steps to help contain its proliferation is certainly cause for alarm.

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) is taking positive steps to control mosquito breeding and will soon, launch a programme in the city of Colombo and its suburbs to ensure its success. This programme will be carried out in conjunction with the Dehiwela-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council, the Kotte Municipal Council and the Kolonnawa Urban Council with the Mayors/Chairman of these local bodies being actively involved in its implementation. The CMC will support the participating Municipalities/Urban Council with the necessary manpower, technology, chemicals and funding. The Dehiwela-Mt. Lavinia and Kotte Municipalities and the Kolonnawa Urban Council oversee areas that border Colombo - hence the need to have them on board to eradicate this menace through team effort.

The Mayor of Colombo - Prasanna Gunawardena has emphasized the need to get this programme off the ground in view of the fact that this plan will prove productive.

Heading this exercise is Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam, Chief Medical Officer of Health - CMC - who says "Mosquitoes know no borders. They effortlessly fly in from Wellawatte to Dehiwela or from Rajagiriya into Borella. Therefore we need to work hand-in-hand with these local authorities and with their active participation and co-operation, this programme will definitely be a success.

With the aim of giving people in these areas 'mosquito-less nights' which translates into a good nights sleep sans the buzz and whine of this insect, the Colombo Municipal Council will kick-start this programme with an awareness campaign in Kotte in a few weeks. The CMC has already started procuring the necessary equipment like sprayers, fogging machines, boats, and ultra low-volume machines to spray chemicals into marshy areas. The World Health Organisation (WHO) will provide the chemicals and will support this venture so that its sustainability is ensured for the required number of years. It is hoped that this will help eradicate the mosquito menace by at least 90% even if it may not be possible to eradicate it totally.

Some of the positive steps taken so far are:

1. To identify high breeding areas and preparing ways to spot such areas as permanent breeding grounds.

2. Workshops for personnel who will be involved in the programme so that they will be conversant with all aspects of the plan of action.

3. Awareness amongst the public on mosquito breeding by generating the required interest in order to receive their active co-operation with their local bodies.

4. Cleaning large areas of canals, clearing blocked drains and removing garbage and debris.

5. Setting up an Entomological Unit to identify the types of mosquitoes to scientifically control the menace. Medical Officers and Field Assistants will be trained to function in this unit.

The Land Reclamation and Development Board, the Irrigation Department and the Urban Development Authority will also be closely associated with this programme. It is not uncommon to see unauthorised structures/additions to building coming up periodically in various towns. Some of these structures are constructed over canals and drains.

Action will therefore be taken against owners of such buildings in view of the fact that they hamper the flow of water and thereby encourage mosquito breeding. It is interesting to note that though municipality workers' visit homes with sprayers to spray chemicals into drains and areas where there is stagnant water, residents coax these workers to spray chemicals into potted plants and gardens as well.

Whilst the blame does lie squarely on the shoulders of the municipality workers, the authorities are at a loss to understand how residents can resort to such unlawful activity which portrays a lack of civic consciousness. If, as the local authorities hope, residents will co-operate by keeping their homes, gardens and surrounding areas clean, the workers will have to only use the chemicals on roadside drains. The MOH of the area has a permanent breeding site register and such identified sites are sprayed every week to kill the larvae. Additionally, there is limited aerial fogging with Malathion too, to contain the breeding.

Information that might be useful is that (a) 50% of the people in Colombo live in 6% of land and (b) the other 50% of the people occupy 94% of land. Therefore, those the poorer strata of society - the shanty and slum dwellers - who occupy 6% of land are not as badly threatened as those 50% of people who are privileged to occupy 94% of land.

And these large areas has the most number of cases of Dengue. A campaign held in 2001 focused on Colombo 3 and Colombo 7, as the most number of cases of Dengue were reported from these areas. Inspections were carried out in order to control and contain the problem. This resulted in the creation of the 'Green Star' competition starting with areas that has ample breeding grounds for the larvae. Forty-five thousand homes were inspected and the residents were requested to take measures to prevent mosquito breeding. The criteria laid down then, is as follows:

1. No debris or garbage to be found outdoors.

2. No mosquito breeding places to be found.

3. No overgrown rank vegetation.

4. Trees, bushes and hedges to be trimmed.

5. Road front to be kept tidy.

6. Drains and gutters should be cleaned.

At the end of the stipulated period, ten thousand three hundred and sixteen homes were issued 'Green Star' stickers. Notices were served on over twelve thousand homes. Four hundred and one cases were filed in the courts for non-compliance. Noteworthy is the professional and scientific approach towards monitoring of the larva and the adult mosquito.

This study will help and guide the pest control unit to control and contain the breeding. Mosquitoes have caused loss of lives, loss of productivity, increased health sector expenses for mosquito control activities, increased expenses to the public with regard to purchase of repellents, a burden to the government hospitals and a loss of confidence of the public with the local authorities. Directly related health diseases are Dengue, Filariasis. Japanese Encephalitis and Malaria whilst the indirectly related health diseases being Respiratory diseases, asthma, COPD and psychological problems like mood disorders and sleep disorders.

In view of the drought that Colombo and the suburbs faced in the recent past, to a great extent mosquito breeding was contained. However, once the rains set in, the problem re-surfaced. The 'Green Star' sticker campaign was carried out in 2002 as well. Statistics once again proved to be similar to that of 2001. The Rotarian were associated with the CMC in carrying out this campaign. Notably, there was a 15% reduction in mosquito breeding in Colombo whilst the suburbs recorded a 100% increase.

Another aspect which is cause for alarm is the non-maintenance of residential flats - namely Anderson Flats, Bambalapitiya Flats, Elvitigala Mawatha Flats, Kollupitiya Flats, Manning Town Flats and Torrigton Flats. Many cases of Dengue have been reported from these flats. What the municipality authorities say is that they are at a loss to understand how residents overlook maintaining common areas like stairways, roads (within), surrounding open areas and drains - all of which contribute to severe health hazards. In view of the active participation of the Pest Control Unit and the Epidemiological Unit of the Public Health Department and the other Councils, it is envisaged that this programme will receive the boost it needs to make it a success.

Additionally, related aspects - viz: solid waste management, recycling, formation of Community Development Centres and youth groups and creating an eco-friendly environment will also be methodically promoted through expert advice and guidance. Schools, public and private sector organizations and other bodies will be encouraged to form partnerships with the local authorities in implementing this programme. Is it too much to expect every household in the Municipal limits of Colombo, Dehiwela-Mt. Lavinia, Kotte and the Urban Council limits of Kolonnawa to make a commitment to extend its co-operation to the fullest, so that Dengue, Filariasis and Japanese Encephalitis will just be no more than words in the lexicon?

Let us then hope that in the not too distant future, mosquitoes will be but a 'bad dream' of the past and devoid of them, we will have 'sweet dreams' as we put our heads down for a good night sleep.

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