Dengue patients on the increase in WP

Minister cites lack of cooperation:

Atapattu BANDARA

Dengue is on the rise in the Western Province more than ever before and the support of some state owned institutions and their officials is not satisfactory in the eradication of dengue, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

He was addressing the fourth progress review meeting of the Presidential Task Force on dengue control at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

Minister Maithripala Sirisena

"I participated in a number of dengue prevention programmes, respective officials were not in attendance.

This is very pathetic and a new circular will be issued under the signature of Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunga to expedite the dengue control programmes", he added. He said taking legal action against the people who keep mosquito breeding sites in their property is not the only way of controlling the spread.

The people should be convinced on the potential danger and their participation should be encouraged in curbing the menace, he said.

"The Health Ministry alone cannot take the responsibility of controlling dengue. It is a joint effort which needs to be carried out throughout the country by all stakeholders. In many countries including Singapore, mosquito breeding is controlled by the Environmental Ministry, he said.

"This is a responsibility of all. No body has excuses", he added."Unless the Presidential Task Force(PTF) was set up in 2010 to control dengue, the situation could have been worse. President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed the PTF on May 2010, he said.

Minister Sirisena requested all Ministry Secretaries of the PTF on dengue control to explain the action taken by them against dengue and to expedite dengue control programmes.

Epidemiologists Dr. Sudath Peiris and Dr. B.K.R. Batuwanthudawa in their presentations pointed out that the number of dengue cases has rapidly increased during the first three weeks of the year. They said some districts have totally controlled the menace.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunga said the circular which is to be issued soon will give more responsibility to the Heads of departments and ministries as they have a great responsibility in overseeing their ministry work and maintenance.

"I find time at least once a month to check every section of the Presidential Secretariat to make sure everything is going smoothly. It is the duty of the Heads of government institutions to direct their officials to carry out their policy plans, he said.

"Dengue eradication campaigns should be guided by the government and the participation of the people should be encouraged by working exemplary to them, he said.

He said with the Health Minister's directives, another meeting will be summoned soon with the participation of the president and all stakeholders responsible in controlling the menace.

It was decided that a monthly progress report on dengue eradication programmes of ministries should be handed over to the Presidential Secretariat and to the Health Ministry.