Move to ban gutters in buildings to curb dengue

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Legislation will brought soon to ban gutters in newly built homes and other buildings.

This move will prevent the creation of dengue mosquito breeding sites, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, the decision was taken yesterday during a special meeting held in the presence of Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Health Ministry officials and representatives from all other relevant state institutions. Entomologists had discovered that gutters in buildings provide the best and permanent breeding sites for dengue mosquitoes.

Gutters in buildings are usually not properly maintained or kept clean due to difficulty in reaching them. Gutters are not inspected by dengue control teams due to the same reason. Gutters which get blocked create ideal dengue mosquito breeding sites because of lack of maintenance.

“Countries, such as, Singapore and Thailand have brought in legislation to ban gutters in new buildings, “he said.

Broken and blocked gutters in buildings pose threat to dengue eradication programmes.

Arrangements will be made to remove such gutters and educate architects on building houses and buildings without gutters, he added.