It was with great interest that I read in these pages Central Province governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa’s comments and observations on the deteriorating health situation in Kandy. He was critical of officials who neglected their duties in safeguarding the health of the public, especially with an outbreak of dengue fever in Kandy.
Kandy residents have had to put up with unsanitary conditions for a very long time. It seems that those responsible have either completely lost control of the situation or are simply not doing their job.
In Kandy city, rubbish and waste pile up for days on end. The roads are littered with rubbish bags, their contents scattered all over the place. Drains get blocked with rubbish bags and sand, and when it rains, drains overflow.
The footpath connecting Primrose Gardens and Primrose Road is blocked with leaves and rubbish. The blocked drain with stagnant water is a breeding site for mosquitoes. The smell of dirty drains is unbearable.
The Central Province governor’s comments should be taken seriously by all. We must improve the health standards of this sacred city and prevent the spread of diseases like dengue.
This is also a city visited by hundreds of tourists The tourist industry will suffer a serious blow if even one tourist contracts dengue and has to be hospitalised. Foreign countries will advise their people not to visit Sri Lanka.
Last year there was an outbreak of hepatitis in the Gampola area, and this was the result of unsanitary conditions.
These are preventable diseases. It is beyond belief that the officials are not educating the public and implementing measures to combat the recurring menace.
Remember that years ago we succeeded in ridding Sri Lanka of malaria, which was once a major health problem.
J. W. Devasiri,
Kandy |
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