Stern action against institutions which do not take measures to crackdown on dengue
The Health Ministry has said that the law will be implemented to the letter against State and Private Institutions which to not take initiatives to crackdown on dengue. It said it will continue the search of dengue mosquito breeding grounds.
The Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council carried out searches for dengue mosquito breeding grounds in schools and public institutions during last week. Eight schools were found to be assisting the breeding of the dengue mosquitoes. Notices have already been issued on 63 schools were detected to be maintaining dengue mosquito breeding grounds. Following recommendations made by the Colombo Municipal Council, the administration of the Colombo Law Faculty has decided to close the Faculty due to a risk of dengue.
Chief Medical Officer of the Colombo Municipal Council Pradeep Kariyawasam said that 1235 dengue cases had so far been reported from the Colombo Municipal Council Authority area alone. As the spread of dengue was taking place in schools, he said they initially began a search of dengue breeding grounds in schools. The Law Faculty was subject to a search yesterday. Since dengue mosquitoes were found in the upstairs of the Law Faculty building, The Vice Chancellor was informed that they were recommending the immediate closure of the Faculty. In addition final warnings have been issued to around 50 schools informing them to clean up the school premises. He said that the main purpose of this exercise was to prevent the children and the people from contracting the disease. He called on all public institutions and households to clean up their premises.
The Health Minister has recalled the release of a circular last year calling for the establishment of Dengue Control Committees within all public institutions. Accordingly activities related to the crackdown on the dengue mosquito have been made mandatory. The Health Secretary has emphasized that severe action will be taken against all institutions that do not work according to the circular.
