Cuban Air Force help to spray BTI
Nadira GUNATILLEKE
The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry will make arrangements within
one month to coordinate between the Sri Lankan and Cuban Governments to
obtain Cuban Air Force assistance to train Sri Lankan Air Force officers
on aerial spraying of BTI using MI 17 helicopters, Healthcare and
Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.
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Chief Cuban Epidemiologist, Dr. Aramis Martinez hands over
the report on Dengue epidemic in Sri Lanka to Healthcare and
Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva while Assistant
Epidemiologist, Dr. Yelina and Cuban Ambassador Nirsia
Castro Guera look on. |
Minister de Silva said he will inform President Mahinda Rajapaksa
about the requirement and will coordinate with the Cuban Government soon
to get the training for Sri Lankan Air Force personnel from the Cuban
Air Force to conduct aerial spraying of BTI bacteria.
“The program will commence after a trial. One of the most affected
areas will be selected to carry out the pilot project. It is good if the
experts committee submits its report within one week,” the Minister
added.
The two Cuban epidemiologists, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Aramis
Martinez and Assistant Epidemiologist, Dr. Yelina Abang handed over
another copy of their report on controlling dengue epidemic in Sri Lanka
to the Minister.
The Minister handed over the report to a committee of local experts
to study the report and make recommendations in connection with adopting
the Cuban methodology in Sri Lanka.
Pointing to the recommendations included in the report prepared by
the Cuban epidemiologists, Minister de Silva said the possibility of
implementing `Spot Fines’ will also be studied with the cooperation of
the Attorney General’s Department. Solid waste management in Sri Lanka
should be given priority when it comes to destroying mosquito breeding
sites.
According to the Minister, the Ministry will obtain more funds from
the Treasury for dengue eradication next year. Arrangements will also be
made to provide more `fogging machines’ to provincial authorities.
The Ministry has already recruited and trained 48 entomologists and
more are to be trained to increase the number of entomologists to 100.
Locally produced BTI will also be tested and used. Local products will
be given priority, he said. |
