News
Schoolchildren to be encouraged to cleanup compounds in mosquito eradication programmes
The prevailing weather has prompted the Health Ministry to strengthen its mosquito eradication programmes.
The National Dengue Eradication Unit (NDEU) said it will conduct a mosquito control week from September 26 to October 2.
NDEU Community Specialist, Dr. Priscilla Samaraweera said through the 175 Medical offices of health (MOH) it is planning to send out around 3000 teams countrywide to check on homes, construction sites and schools.
She said that the NDEU has sought the assistance of the Education Ministry to allow school children to participate in the programme. The students will be encouraged to clean up their compounds and taught to segregate waste in different bins.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 38,000 cases have been reported, with 40 deaths, upto September this year. Last year, for the same period, around 150,000 cases had been reported with 400 deaths.
Meanwhile in view of schools being one of the primary sources of mosquito breeding sites the NDCU in collaboration with the Rotary International District 3220 is planning a waste segregation programme for primary schoolchildren in the Colombo district. A survey conducted in the schools showed that discarded containers were leading mosquito breeding sites.