‘A Healthy Nation’ program launched

Stanley SENEVIRATNE, Kurunegala North Group correspondent

A massive dengue prevention programme has been launched by the Community Development and Public Utility Service Department of the Kurunegala Preadeshiya Sabha under the concept ‘A Healthy Nation’ within the Kurunegala PS Division covering the 121 Grama Niladari divisions to destroy all mosquito breeding places, in the area.

The main objective of the program is to eradicate contraction of dengue from the PS division totally. Awareness programs, workshops and seminars are to be conducted in every Grama Niladari division to this effect and to educate the people about dengue prevention.

Dengue is spread by one of the stropytes of the Dengue Virus carried by the vectors - Aedes Aegipti and Aedes Albopictus, and these mosquitoes bite during day when it is least expected and human defences of mosquitoes are down, said Patrick Karunasinghe the Chairman Kurunegala PS addressing the first seminar commencing the Dengue Prevention Program held at the sabha premises on March 17.

He said that although a person contracts dengue once, because there are four different types of the virus, he or she can develop dengue again, infected with another variant of the virus. Whereas Chickungunya can be contracted only once because there is one type of the virus.

Karunasinghe said dengue can lead to dengue fever to dengue haemorrhagic fever to Dengue shock, and the major cause of death due to dengue is dengue shock from DHF or Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever Late detections and improper treatment could be fatal.

In response to a question by the media chairman Karunasinghe pointed out that if Dengue fever is suspected the patient should undergo an immediate blood test.