Taking the fight back to dengue
From what could be
gathered, the state is confronting the dengue menace head-on and
the Dengue Control Week is registering some remarkable victories
against the dreaded disease. For instance, on the first day of
inspections, in the metropolis and its environs, more than 3,000
dengue mosquito breeding sites were detected and destroyed by
the authorities. More such detections are being made and further
successes are being registered in the fight against dengue.
This is as it should be. There is no choice but to adopt a
no-holds-barred approach to bringing the disease under control
and we are happy that the health authorities, led by Minister
Maithreepala Sirisena are putting their best foot forward in
this crucial undertaking. A proactive involvement in the
eradication of this disease on the part of the state and other
relevant parties is what is required and we hope this activity
would be perpetuated and not discontinued when it is found that
the worst is seemingly over.
A pattern of sorts could now be discerned in the outbreak of
dengue in this country. Come the monsoon showers and an outbreak
of dengue could be expected. The showers are increasing in
intensity and this could be one reason why the disease is
proving to be rampant and somewhat unmanageable. The rains are
so torrential and heavy currently, that taking timely
precautions against the outbreak and spread of diseases is
proving very difficult. Therefore, we cannot afford to be taken
unawares by the rains. The conditions on the ground should be
such always that the possibility of the outbreak of disease
should be nil or minimal.
This is the reason why the basic material conditions that
bring about dengue and other diseases should be removed
permanently. We should be also always vigilant about these
conditions re-manifesting themselves once they are dislodged.
Accordingly, the current dengue eradication programme should be
carried out on a permanent basis. The state and the public, in
other words, should be proactively involved in
dengue-eradication and cease being reactive to the outbreak of
the disease. Right now, we are mainly reactive to dengue and
this is an approach which is not at all advisable.
Accordingly, public awareness of dengue and other diseases
should be always high. Only a sustained public education
programme could ensure this state of vigilance. The public
should be fully aware of the conditions that could help in
breeding dengue and other preventable ailments. Besides, all
relevant sections should be encouraged into eliminating these
conditions by themselves, rather than be habituated into
reacting to health crises or be dependent on state agencies to
do the eliminating for them. For instance, residents should be
sufficiently knowledgeable to destroy the conditions that give
rise to these illnesses. By now, for instance, the public should
see for themselves that various kinds of junk and disposables
that help in the breeding of dengue must be destroyed and their
respective premises kept clean and habitable.
However, all resistance to these illness eradication efforts
should also be neutralized by the authorities. We are compelled
to say this because of the news that some dengue-control
personnel have been attacked by intransigent members of the
public. This lawless trend must be arrested by the state and the
offenders brought to justice.
We have here the evidence that not all sections of the public
could be described as civic-conscious and responsible. It is
this lack of conscientiousness which is as dreadful as dengue
itself. With persons of this kind for whom correction is
anathema, it is small wonder that dreaded diseases are on the
rise once again.
We call for the stringent application of the law. Offenders
must be fined and all those who resist inspection must be
prosecuted and brought to book. With dengue claiming more and
more lives, it should be plain to see that dengue must be
tackled on a very urgent basis. Nothing could be left to chance. |