The failure of Local Government (LG) authorities to properly manage waste in the Western Province (WP) and many other parts of the country has significantly contributed to the spread of dengue, according to the Medical and Civil Rights Association of Doctors (MCPA) organisation.
The President of the MCPA, Dr Chamal Sanjeewa told the media yesterday (15) that uncollected garbage and stagnant water accumulating in many areas had created ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes carrying dengue and other mosquito borne diseases.
He noted that many Local Authorities had failed to remove waste efficiently, resulting in piles of garbage being left in front of homes and unofficial garbage dumps on busy public road sides. "As a result, water that has stagnated in and around these areas, or retained the moist, thus facilitating mosquito breeding and increasing the risk of dengue transmission," he said.
Dr Sanjeewa also stressed that members of the public should take responsibility for keeping their homes and surrounding premises clean in order to minimise mosquito breeding sites.
He warned that pregnant women, young children, elderly persons and individuals suffering from non-communicable diseases such as diabetes faced a higher risk of developing serious complications if infected with dengue.
He further urged heads of Government and semi-Government institutions, as well as schools and universities, to implement programmes to ensure that their premises are maintained in a clean condition. “There should also be no delay in seeking medical attention from a qualified healthcare professional if a person contracted a fever which lasts more than two days”.
Dr Sanjeewa said that the health authorities should consider introducing advanced technologies and methods used internationally to control dengue, expressing concern that Sri Lanka had been unable to effectively bring the disease under control despite battling it for nearly three decades.
By 14 June, the number of dengue cases in the country had risen to 40,423 with 23 dengue deaths being recorded while a majority of the cases were recorded from Colombo, Gampaha, Matara, Galle, Ratnapura and Kandy. A spokesperson for the National Dengue Control Unit said that 50 per cent of the dengue cases are from the WP.
However, attempts made by The Daily Morning to contact the Deputy Minister and the Secretary to the Public Administration, Provincial Councils and LG Ministry for comment proved futile.