Task Force on dengue control meets May 25

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Presidential Task Force set up to control dengue in the country will meet for the first time at the Presidential Secretariat on May 25 at 4.00 pm . Representatives from all relevant institutions will be present, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman this is the first time a Presidential Task Force is set up to control dengue in Sri Lanka. Inter sectoral coordination will be carried out with the participation of Health, Defence, Environment, Education and the Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministries..

Earlier Sri Lanka’s dengue control program was limited to a few days or weeks but under the new program it will be carried out countrywide throughout the year paying special attention to the most affected 65 Divisional Secretariat divisions. Contribution of the public, State and private institutions will be obtained by the Task Force to carry out activities, he said.

The National Dengue Control week was from May 3 to 9. Over 75 dengue deaths and over 12,000 cases were reported from all parts of Sri Lanka by end of April. There were 44 dengue deaths and 4,672 patients reported in January this year.

In February 4,542 patients and 13 deaths were reported. The number of dengue patients reported in March is 2,522 and there were 15 deaths.