Abysmal record on dengue-control
We hope the relieving
news that dengue deaths in this country have somewhat decreased
over the past few months has not sent most of our state
institutions into a slumber of negligence. We are led to this
reflection on learning that over 50 percent of our state
institutions are yet to establish Dengue Control Committees,
which are charged with taking measures to contain the disease.
We have it on the authority of Health Minister Maithripala
Sirisena that only 45 out of our 63 ministries and 35 out of
some 90 departments, for instance, have set up these Committees
for the control of the dreaded disease. Even in the case of
other categories of state institutions, the statistics are most
unflattering. All these and more pieces of evidence of gross
neglect of duties by state personnel come in the teeth of the
disclosure that the central authorities have done more than the
needful by sending out circulars on the need for precautionary
measures against dengue.
Apparently, our public is yet to experience the need to act
fast on controlling dengue. Much more than any cultural
considerations, it is inertia and lethargy which is getting in
the way of some members of the public and institutions alerting
themselves to the dengue threat and its fatal consequences.
This mindset problem needs to be remedied first, we believe.
For far too many members of the public, the dengue menace is
more a 'seasonal thing' which explodes with the monsoonal rains
and then recedes once the rains peter out. This is a fundamental
flaw in our approach to controlling dengue.
In terms of this approach, it would be more than sufficient
to take a few practical measures against the disease when the
monsoon rains come along, and return to our diurnal occupations
in the belief that the problem of dengue has been looked after.
Little is it realized that these are only half measures that
just would not stand the test of time.
The recurrence of dengue is ample proof that half and
'seasonal' measures are highly deficient and should not be
resorted to if we are to see an end to the malaise. Rather, the
disease must be fought on a continuous, year-long basis. That
is, right throughout the months, dengue control measures must be
implemented and very stringently so. A year-long programme of
dengue-control which would yield durable results is what is
required and we hope the state would give this proposal some
thought and act on it.
We suggest that a long term programme be implemented with the
cooperation of the public to firmly control dengue. It would not
do to rush through with keeping our residential and official
premises clean when a dengue alert is sounded. It should be our
endeavour, right through the year, to cleanse our premises of
the conditions that help breed dengue and other dreaded
diseases.
This calls for an exemplary civic-consciousness, among other
things. The public of this country, while being trained to guard
against the conditions that give rise to dengue, need to think
beyond selfish interests and take all safety health measures, on
a continuous basis, to further the best interests of the country
and the people.
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