ST. PETER’S PRIMARY LENGTHENS PANTS TO AVOID DENGUE

Parents of students in the Primary section of St. Peter’s College Colombo 4 had complained last semester that Dengue mosquitoes were breeding in the canal behind the Primary School.

Thus, due to the accelerating spread of the disease and the fact that some students had contracted it, the school authorities had taken a decision to change the Primary School uniform, hence the students had been advised to wear long trousers.

Despite this measure the parents complain that there is still a chance of their children contracting Dengue Fever.

However, when Daily Mirror contacted the St. Peter’s College Primary section Principal Father Vincent Ashley, he said the reported numbers of students who fell victim to Dengue Fever had considerably reduced since their decision to change the uniform.

He further said as the canal behind the College was a Dengue-breeding site the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) officials continually took steps to clear it.

“The canal is indeed a Dengue breeding site as sometimes water gets stagnated there. But CMC is taking measures to control the spread of Dengue,” he said. According to Father Ashley there was continuous cleaning, fogging and spraying in the premises by the CMC. He said they received support from other parties as well in order to control the situation.

Meanwhile CMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said the number of Dengue patients had doubled. “In December there were 500 suspected Dengue cases reported. In January so far 75 patients were reported. This is actually higher than what was reported in January last year. The number seems to have doubled,” he said.

Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said the CMC was utilising their fullest capacity in controlling the situation. He said the support of the public was essential as the situation was impossible for the CMC to handle by itself.

“We are utilising our maximum strength to control the issue. But we need public support. The public need to cooperate with the CMC,” he said, adding that awareness programmes and campaigns were also being planned.

Pics by Nisal Baduge