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When eradicating dengue:
PHIs not over Penal Code - Health Minister
The Government cannot given more powers to the PHIs or other
officials to eradicate the mosquito breeding places under an Act of
Mosquito Breeding Control. If PHIs or other officials want to enter any
premises and search for mosquito breeding places, they must get a search
warrant from a Magistrate. That is the procedure. We can’t give powers
over the Penal Code, said Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal
Siripala de Silva.
The Health Minister was addressing the 74th Anniversary of Public
Health Inspectors Association at the Bishop’s College Auditorium,
Colombo recently. He was the Chief Guest.
The Minister stated the Government has given more powers to the PHIs,
PHMs, Chief Medical Officers and Deputy Chief Medical Officers in
Municipal Council to eradicate mosquito breeding places in their areas.
But, they can’t enter any premises and search for mosquito breeding
places without a search warrant. If they want to enter a premises, they
must get a search warrant from a relevant Magistrate. “That is the
procedure. Police officers also get search warrants and we cannot give
powers to them over the Criminal Law,” the Minister said.
He said, more people talk about the Cuban method to eradicate the
dengue epidemic. The Cuban Administration System and our system are not
parallels.
“We are completely different. If we are ready to carry out the Cuban
administration system, we can do it. Cuban doctors are hard worked to
eradicate the dengue epidemic. They work hard and earn US$ 10 monthly
salary. But, I would like to ask, do our doctors work for a Rs. 1,000
salary. Sometimes, they were demanding additional allowances,” he said.
Public Health Inspectors and other officials have more powers to take
legal action against the Municipal Council or local government body
under an Act of Mosquito Breeding Control. But, they also have more
problems. When they collect garbage, they have no place to dispose the
garbage.
Sri Lanka has spent 80 percent of the health budget on curative care
and 20 percent for public health. |
