Dengue eradication campaign in Colombo on Sunday

Laskhmi de Silva

A dengue eradication house to house campaign in the Colombo city will be started on Sunday at the Colombo Municipal Council by a group comprising Municipal Council staff, United Nurses' Union and Police Community Service, Colombo Municipal Council Commissioner Badrani Jayawardena told the Daily News yesterday.

The incidence of dengue had increased this year by 46 percent compared to 2008, but the number of deaths compared to the previous year has been less. Dengue breaks out in bigger proportions every three years according to the records. The last breakout of the disease was in 2006, she said.

Public awareness to prevent mosquito breeding is essential and the campaign is aimed at educating the people of Colombo about keeping the environment and homes clean and preventing water stagnation. The campaign will be continued over five Sundays.

Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana and United Nurses' Union President Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera will take part at the opening of the campaign on Sunday, she said.

Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank is funding a scheme to improve Colombo's 100 year old sewerage system with an investment of US $ 116 million Commissioner said.

The scheme will cover the Colombo city and Greater Colombo and Kolonnawa areas, she said.