CMC begins war against city mosquitoes

By Nadia Fazlulhaq

The dengue and chikungunya prevention campaign “No to D & C” from March to September initiated by the Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) held its inaugural ceremony yesterday with a promise to continue the prevention of a major outbreak of these diseases with the beginning of monsoon rains in May.

Colombo Mayor Uvais Mohamed Imthiyaz was the Chief Guest of the ceremony.

Addressing the crowd the CMC’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam warned that if mosquito breeding places in Colombo were not cleared by June or July, at least 50% of the residents would be liable to infection, especially by the chikungunya virus.

“There will be a major breakdown in the city if dengue and chikungunya becomes a threat to the residents. This will definitely affect the economy in a massive way,” he said.

‘No to D & C’ programme started with a house-to-house inspection last Saturday following the inauguration ceremony. It covered areas in Kollupitiya, Wellawatte, Cinnamon Gardens, Kirulapone, Borella, Kuppiyawatte and Narahenpita.

Around 1000 CMC and Health Ministry officials along with medical students, St. John’s Ambulance members, students and volunteers were involved. The campaign will include a mass awareness and house inspection programme, a walk and a school-based dengue control programme from March to September.