Point of view:

Dengue and negative health practices

I wish to suggest some points to eradicate Dengue breeding mosquitoes and some adverse health practices.

The authorities have to revise and assess the status of public toilets whether it is in the interest of the public or it harms them instead. Public toilets had been allocated some several decade ago in the capital to help the public and now it is used by most of the drug dealers and drug addicts. These places have become most prominent mosquito breeding grounds where water leakage takes place all the time and mosquitoes breeds easily.

A poster on dengue prevention. Picture Xo.org

Fumigation is in our country done on specific areas only. This has been done in the early morning hours or late nights in all parts of the middle east regions on regular basis covering all the streets and remote areas even though these countries don’t have such problems. This will be cost effective and keep Colombo free of mosquitoes.

Dumping garbage on the street on regular basis has become our culture which is another source of infectious diseases and breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which can be avoided. These garbage dumping places can be provided with garbage disposal container provided at each location.

Some tools and tips can be provided on television to the public.

Most of the restaurants and hotels in the Colombo have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and diseases, if you look at the backside of the kitchen or cooking/washing areas including their toilet facilities. Some of these hotel waiters or food handlers do not even hold health certificates and work with many infectious diseases. We have to admit that out dated food and serving stale food in some of the hotels is becoming a dangerous practice and is a major contributor for diseases and illnesses.

The Government has to regulate these hotel services with proper hygienic procedures and by making sure that these places are issued health licenses.

Drug taking and dealing is still going on the street as all can see. The health authorities have to check drug takers and dealers on a routine basis.

It is still not expensive to monitor some of the streets by CCTV cameras to avoid crime and illness. Public is afraid to talk or even to complain about the drug dealers because of fear for their own safety.

Some of the private health clinics and health practitioners are located in a very unhealthy environment.

Their staff are not basically trained. If we look at blood handling practices, for example, when a patient goes to a clinic to check his/her blood sugar level, some of the clinics use small blood glucose meters to monitor the level of sugar on which the same single needle has been used for many patients which can easily infect the people and even could cause HIV infections.

The country is happy to see now that we are free of terrorism. By taking necessary and relevant steps we can surely to free our country from mosquitoes and illnesses .

Mohamed M. A. M. UK