Dengue prevention: Presidential Secretariat issues tough new regulations

A Presidential directive has been issued to strengthen the multi-sectoral approach for dengue prevention and control initiatives across the country as dengue has become a major public health issue, with the number of cases increasing to an alarming level, according to a circular issued by the Presidential Secretariat.

Issuing a circular during his last days as Presidential Secretary, P. B. Jayasundera said all state institution heads must be committed to implementing dengue control activities in national, provincial, district, rural and institution levels with the assistance of health officials, "considering that a possible dengue epidemic situation could place a strain on the health system of the country at a time when the health sector is already engaged in containing the spread of COVID-19."

Indicating the risk of school children contracting the disease as about 30 per cent of reported dengue patients were in the age group of five to 19 years in recent weeks, the circular noted that recent field inspections had identified several mosquito breeding grounds in public and private institutions, construction sites, schools, religious places and fishing harbours but no necessary steps were taken to resolve the situation.

Accordingly, all state institutions had been directed to nominate a suitable person to drive each institutional mechanism to ensure sustenance of dengue prevention and control activities by identifying and removing possible mosquito breeding sites and taking follow up action.

A committee comprising secretaries of four Ministries-Urban Development and Housing, Highways, Public Services, Provincial Council and Local Gover nment, Fisheries and Health--has been authorised to incorporate rules and guidelines relevant to construction premises in construction agreements with the objective of dengue control, and formulate legal provisions to prevent the spread of dengue mosquitoes in bare lands, unoccupied properties and unused, abandoned or unowned boats in fishery harbours, the circular added.