In new buildings

New laws to help regulate the use of roof gutters in all buildings being erected hereafter and new guidelines to ensure that existing roof gutters are free of mosquito breeding sites are crucial, stressed Dr. Hasitha Tissera, while commending the fact that the country has passed a number of laws for the prevention and control of mosquito breeding sites.

In view of many plans in the coming five years for mega cities, port cities and a boom in public and private constructions, it will pose a testing time for Sri Lanka not only on the prevention of dengue but also on sustaining such prevention, he said.

“This is why strict laws are essential to maintain mosquito-free environments at construction sites,” reiterated Dr. Tissera.

Meanwhile, there needs to be very stringent checks all-year round for dengue mosquito breeding sites and not just when the rains come, he said, urging that the whole country must be geared to identify, predict and mitigate the threat of dengue if Sri Lanka is to win its battle against this tiny vector.

Focusing on the importance for special measures to prevent dengue in “built” environments, he requests urban planners to work closely with the health authorities.

With regard to schools, he points out that each and every school should appoint a specific ‘dengue’ person to go round, not just during the rains, but all throughout the year to look for mosquito breeding sites and destroy them, while construction sites also need a designated person to do so every few days.

This is vital as the mosquito which spreads dengue is also a carrier of zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.