State institutions remiss in dengue prevention

Nadira Gunatilleke

Legal action will be taken against those found contributing to dengue mosquito breeding by not following the laid down rules and guidelines issued by the authorities. It seems certain state institutions had not followed the circular issued by Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga ordering the heads of these institutions to set up Dengue Control Committees in their respective institutions, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayatilleke will take legal action against dengue mosquito breeders who do not follow state circulars, rules and regulations. The Health Ministry has already issued notice on 63 schools. These schools will be re-inspected after two weeks.

Legal action will be taken against school authorities who fail to clean up all dengue mosquito sites located within their school premises. Earlier Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Jayatilleke instructed the temporary closure of 12 schools and one building belonging to the Law Faculty of the University of Colombo because of large scale dengue mosquito sites located within these premises. The large scale dengue mosquito breeding sites were detected by Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) health authorities during their inspection rounds, he said.

State institutions’ heads should strictly follow the circular issued by Secretary Weeratunga and take immediate action to set up Dengue Control Committees within their institutions to eliminate dengue mosquito breeding sites located in the premises of state institutions. Dengue mosquitoes can breed even inside air conditioners if not cleaned properly and regularly, he added.