Dengue prevention cleaning programmes to be held in Western Province schools
View(s):Special cleaning programmes will be conducted in closed Western province schools to prevent the breeding of deadly dengue mosquitoes which are causing a threat to areas surrounding school premises, the head of the Health Ministry’s Dengue Control Unit said.
“Usually before school holiday is over we instruct provincial and zonal education officials to clean the premises and ensure that they are mosquito free. But with a pandemic threat, Western province schools are to be closed further. Rains during the past weeks can lead to breeding spots within school premises,” said Dengue Control Unit Director AnuraJayasekera.
Dr.Jayasekera said gutters, discarded containers, storage facilities and leaking roofs which lead to rain water stagnation were some possible breeding sites. The Western province has 1356 schools, with 74 national schools and 1282 provincial schools.
In the Colombo district, the Colombo education zone itself has 125 schools, whileHomagama has 99 schools, Piliyandala 87 schools and Sri Jayewardenepura 91 schools. In the Gampaha district, Gampaha has 145 schools, and there 115 in the Kelaniya education zone, 159 in the Minuwangoda education zone and 117 in the Negombo education zone. In the Kalutara district, Kalutara has 151 schools, Horanahas 136 schools and the Matugama education zone has 131 schools.
“At present public health officials are extremely busy with COVID controlling mechanisms within the province. While we conduct cleaning programmes, we requested education officials to work with principals, development societies and past pupils to coordinate and continue cleaning programmes – while adhering to health guidelines,” Dr. Jayasekera said.
According to him, 35 dengue deaths were reported this year with over 30,000 cases islandwide.
(NF)