Disease prevention steps in flood affected areas

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has made arrangements to prevent possible outbreaks of epidemics after floods subside in the affected areas under the direction of Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, a Ministry spokesman said.

He said the Ministry will launch a joint programme in co-ordination with all Provincial Health Officers in the flood affected areas. Usually after floods, there is an outbreak of various diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, viral flu, fever, diarrhoea in the affected areas.

At the moment, Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Galle and some other areas have been affected by floods.

The Ministry has already assigned five Deputy Director Generals to monitor the health condition of the people living in those five districts.

These five officials will co-ordinate the prevention programmes with the Provincial health staff of the affected areas.

The Medical Research Institute will send a team of 65 microbiologists to the Ratnapura district.

They will conduct a special investigation to find out how chikungunya started spreading in the Ratnapura district.

The Ministry warns the public to drink boiled water and eat well cooked food. It also requests the public not to eat raw fruits, vegetables and salads.