Pre-emptive strike on Dengue
Health authorities in Dehiwela – Mount Lavinia have focused on immediate attention on the impending danger of the dengue fever and launched a crash programme to save the public from the disease again.
The programme got underway from Attidiya which is the most vulnerable to the deadly disease due to a large number of shanties.
Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr Indika Ellawala said several dengue fever positive cases had been reported from the area in Attidiya this year and that the Municipal Health Department focused particular attention on it and commenced the programme from that area on the instructions of Mayor Nawalage Stanley Dias.
Dr Ellawalwala said a team of Health Department employees and volunteers carried out inspected houses, home gardens, and business establishments, in Kahawita Mawatha, Kahawita Place, Samagi Mawatha.
The mayor participated in the inspection.
“We destroyed degradable garbage and removed non-degradable garbage including empty plastic cans, yoghurt cups, plastic ware, and polythene by tractors and dumpsters. The owners of premises were requested through public address system to collect and handover to the tractors and dumpsters before the inspection of their premises.
“In case of places of religious worship and schools we deployed volunteers and municipal labourers to collect garbage. During the public awareness that followed, we requested the people to refrain from haphazard disposal of articles that would fill with water and create mosquito breeding grounds.“the Municipal Health Department’s fumigation team was deployed to fumigate the public places. They were instructed to keep the premises clean and tidy to save themselves from the deadly disease.” Dr Ellawala said.
He said the crash programme to save the people in the area and thousands of visitors from other areas from the threat of dengue fever would continue.
The programme was organised on the instructions of Mayor Stanley Dias, CMOH Dr.ellawala, Administrative PHI H. Lalith Perera, area PHIS C.G.S.M. Kumaratunga.
The Municipal Health Department’s fumigation team was deployed to fumigate the public places. They were instructed to keep the premises clean and tidy t o save themselves from the deadly disease