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Thursday, 23 June 2011

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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.

Ten Year National Action Plan for a Trilingual Sri Lanka:

Redefining language

Nine centres of English language training in the nine provinces will be established in the course of the next six months. This is funded by the national budget under the programme ‘English as a life skill’. Each centre will have residential facilities, auditorium, lecture halls, library and language labs,

Full Story

The Morning Inspection

All the violins are playing for you Aunty Eileen

Aunty Eileen is no more. She passed away a couple of days ago. She was blessed with an exceptional gift and one she shared with many, many people. She was a teacher, so her music lives on and will continue to lift and enrich lives. This is the way of teachers and teaching,

Full Story

‘Strong international support for SL’s sovereignty’

Sri Lankan career diplomat, Nihal Rodrigo, served in diplomatic postings in Germany, India and Australia. He served as Ambassador in Sri Lanka’s Permanent Missions to the United Nations, respectively as in New York as Deputy Permanent Representative (1984-1987 and 1993-1996), and Geneva as Permanent Representative from 1987-1989.

Full Story

 

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