Wednesday, April 18, 2012

School clean ups ordered to face dengue threat

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Health Ministry has informed all school authorities to have all schools cleaned op on or before April 23, the date of commencement of schools after the New Year vacation in the wake of the countrywide outbreak of dengue.

The diseases has already claimed over 43 lives, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, all school principals and school heads have been adviced to clean their schools on April 23 or before (with the assistance of parents) to destroy all dengue mosquito breeding sites that have mushroomed in all school buildings and compounds during the school vacation.

This is required to protect school children and teachers from dengue fever. So far over 9,700 dengue patients and 43 deaths had been reported from all parts of the country. Over 3,000 dengue patients have been reported each month this year and over 15 deaths reported during this year.

Over 56 per cent of dengue patients had been reported from the Western Province and Colombo is the most affected district. Ideal conditions for dengue mosquito breeding exist due to warm day time and rainy evenings/nights, he said. A pilot project is now in progress in the Gampaha district - one of the most affected districts in the country - to implement dengue mosquito breeding control activities more effectively.

A chart with dengue mosquito breeding sites, the date of removal etc is being issued to each household and it should be maintained by the house owners. The chart should be checked and signed by PHIs and Grama Seva Niladharis. Health authorities from higher levels (Provincial and Regional) also check and sign the chart. The project will be extended to few other districts too, he added.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/04/18/news14.asp

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