Rotary partners Ministry of Health to make SL dengue-free by 2020
Governor Dushan Soza of Rotary International District 3220 signed the LIO on behalf of the 70 Rotary Clubs in Sri Lanka, Rotaract Clubs and Interact clubs whilst on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Secretary to the Ministry of Health Janaka Sugathadasa placed his signature in the presence of Minister of Health Rajitha Senaratne and Past President Rotary worldwide K. Ravindran.
The LOI sets the stage towards collaborative agreement with National Dengue Control Unit of Health Ministry headed by Dr. Hasitha Tissera and all Rotary Clubs of Sri Lanka on the premise making Sri Lanka dengue-free with zero deaths by 2020 said Governor Dushan Soza. The LOI included the complete control of the breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes with continuous social mobilisation and achieve 100 percent traceability by 2020 he said.
The work already has been kick started with Rotary the NDCU of Health Ministry ensuring that all breeding grounds of in the five districts of Kurunegala, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Kandy and Colombo will be cleaned within three months. This includes Rotarians to introduce IT networks, web based systems and social apps for data acquisitions, reporting and monitoring. Subsequently Rotarians to introduce NDCU approved Ovitraps to trap the larvae and use them as monitoring tool with continuous monitoring.
Dr. Hasitha Tissera said: “We will continue to invest on R&D on dengue mosquito and Larvae, to learn more on dengue mosquito breeding so that we develop a solution more accurately.
Rotary Governor Soza said: “We will also launch social awareness campaigns and community engagement so that entire public is involved in the mission from school kids to adults. The Interactors, Rotaractors and the Rotary cubs across the country will give leadership to the project in partnership with the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry is engaging the expertise of the global entity World Health Organisation (WHO) on R&D, mosquito repellents, plants and flowers, and new methodologies to eradicate this deadly menace that has taken the lives of many Sri Lankan’s in the last few years.