Special dengue eradication dept coming up

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Health Ministry will set up a special permanent department to eradicate dengue from Sri Lanka. Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has submitted a Cabinet paper in this regard, a Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, the main objective of setting up this department is to carry out dengue control activities countrywide throughout the year without interruption. There is no proper mechanism to carry out dengue control activities throughout the year. Dengue control programs are implemented only when dengue incidents rise, the spokesman said.

Around 80,000 persons died between 1934 and 1935 from Malaria and the Malaria Control Department was set up to eradicate Malaria from Sri Lanka. After fully controlling Malaria, the department was closed and human resources and other resources belonging to it were distributed among Health Ministry sectors, he said.

The Ministry's intention is to reopen this department and name it as the Dengue Control Department and assign dengue control activities.

The department's experiences, trained human resources and other resources will be used to control dengue.