Massive dengue control programme launched covering 12 districts

Stanley Seneviratne Kurunegala north group corr

KURUNEGALA: A collaborative effort is under way to enhance the actions taken to reduce the outbreak of dengue fever which has become a major health problem in the country.

Dengue outbreak has worsened after the tsunami due to the increase of mosquito breeding sites in destroyed and abandoned premises, and discarded containers at overcrowded temporary shelters without proper garbage disposal facilities.

At present the National Dengue Control unit of the Ministry of Healthcare and nutrition is coordinating dengue control activities in the country according to a national plan of action.

The Italian Embassy in Colombo through the Italian Corporation office currently funding about 40 projects across the country in the post tsunami reconstruction process is focusing on health and sanitation as well as psychosocial issues.

The World Health Organisation facilitated the partnership between the Italian Embassy and Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition for implementation of a national plan of action for the prevention of dengue fever.

The memorandum of understanding which has been signed on June 13, 2006 among the government of Sri Lanka, the Italian Embassy, and the World Health Organisation Office Colombo will enhance the activities of prevention and control of the breeding grounds of the dengue transmitting mosquitoes.

Under this project National Dengue Control Programme will receive Rs. 10 million and this grant will mainly facilitate the strengthening of activities leading to active and effective participation of the community in dengue control. Communication for behavioural impact approach will be used to effectively mobilize community towards eliminating dengue mosquito breeding sites. Five thousand volunteers will be trained to take the messages door-to-door on eliminating dengue breeding grounds.

The project will cover 12 districts which have reported the highest number of dengue cases during the last five years. They are Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Kegalle, Puttalam, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, Trincomalee and Anuradhapura.