News
Dengue teams carry ID to foil cheats
The Ministry of Health has taken steps to see that members of the public are not stung by pests bigger than mosquitoes when dengue control officers came knocking on doors this week to inspect residences.
Residents were warned to check for the special identity card issued to members of the dengue control team before permitting them to enter homes for inspections of dengue breeding spots, and to make sure that PHIs and military personnel are wearing their respective uniforms.
More than 100,000 residences, public and private institutions in the Western Province are being inspected under the massive anti-dengue campaign organised by the Defence and Health Ministries that ends today (June 22) after commencing on Friday.
The campaign was tasked with inspecting 71,541 premises in Greater Colombo, 15,682 premises in the Colombo district, 10,352 places in Gampaha district and 7,133 premises in Kalutara district.
Seven hundred teams have been deployed, each team consisting of military personnel, medical officers, Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) who have been inspecting 50 sites each day.
“Previously we had issues with people posing as dengue control programme officers or as PHIs and there were reports of robberies. This time all officers from military personnel to PHIs will be in uniform and will wear the identity card bearing the name of the officer, code number and signature of the MoH. These officers have been given training on identifying mosquito breeding spots,” said Dr. Hasitha Tissera of the Health Ministry’s Dengue Control Unit.
Non-uniformed volunteers who accompany the team will be carrying ID documentation.
The Health Ministry declared a dengue outbreak situation with close upon 50 deaths and 15,000 cases this year. Last month saw the highest number of dengue cases – 3,998. There have been 2,357 cases recorded in the first three weeks of June.
This campaign was decided after the four year old Presidential Task Force met earlier this month with President Rajapaksa chairing the meeting held at Temple Trees. Health, education, local government, environment, police and military representatives were also present at the meeting.
Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that over a thousand military personnel were trained and prepared for the dengue control campaign and how to identify places of mosquito breeding. The military personnel will be accompanied by health officials.
Colombo, Ratnapura, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle and Batticoloa districts showed an increased number of cases during recent months. Out of the total Colombo district had the highest with 5,244 cases.
The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry last month declared Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia, Ratmalana, Moratuwa, Kolonnawa, Boralesgamuwa, Homagama, Piliyandala and Maharagama to be high-risk areas.
Kelaniya, Mahara, Gampaha, Negombo, Attanagalle, Ja-ela, Wattala, Horana, Dodangoda, Matugama and Panadura in Kalutara district have also been declared high-risk.
Half-built houses and concrete slabs are mosquito breeding grounds in Colombo city, where 1,400 cases have been reported this year, said Colombo’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijeyamuni.
Thimbirigasyaya, Narahenpita, Pamankada and Kirulapone, in Colombo East and Modera, Mattakkuliya, Mahawatte and Grandpass in Colombo North are areas of heavy mosquito infestation, he said.
The teams will be looking for discarded containers including yoghurt cups, bottles, plastic containers, discarded toys, boxes, beer cans, and broken roof tiles, polythene sheets in residences, gardens and in the vicinity, as well as examining concrete slabs, roof gutters, ponds and tanks, bird baths, flower pots, discarded antenna posts, bathroom fittings, air-condition and refrigerator trays.