Better care for dengue patients

Countrywide dengue cases 11,110, deaths 82:

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Health Ministry is in the process of upgrading High Dependancy Units (HDUs) to offer better care for dengue patients. The construction of an HDU with 17 beds at Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo is in progress, a ministry spokesman said. According to the spokesman, the ministry provided another 17 bed HDU to Kalmunai Hospital recently.

“HDUs will be set up at 50 main hospitals. One bed costs Rs one million. The ministry granted between Rs 5 to 10 million for each hospitals to set up HDU.

The ministry also upgraded ICUs in main state hospitals to offer services for dengue patients,” the spokesman said. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry Epidemiology Unit recorded 11,110 dengue cases from all parts of the country by July 8 and 82 dengue deaths during the same period.

Colombo district reported 4,331 dengue cases and 31 deaths.

Gampaha district recorded 1,402 dengue cases and 12 deaths.