Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has called for a planned and targeted national programme aimed at eradicating dengue within the next two years.
The minister was speaking at a discussion held at the Colombo National Hospital on Wednesday to review the dengue situation in high-risk Medical Officer of Health divisions and to strengthen mosquito control work, Ada Derana reported.
The meeting examined shortcomings in earlier dengue control efforts, identified high-risk areas, and considered joint mosquito control operations, expanded technical support, stronger treatment services and measures to reduce dengue deaths.
Jayatissa said the recent reduction in dengue fatalities was a significant achievement, and stressed that mosquito control must continue even in periods when reported cases fall. He said a structured programme should run down to Grama Niladhari Division level under the supervision of the Health Ministry.
National Dengue Control Unit Director Dr. Kapila Kannangara said the risk remains, but that daily reported cases have fallen from around 1,300 to between 350 and 400 as a result of the measures taken so far.
Kannangara put the national totals at 87,536 dengue cases and 63 deaths as of Tuesday. He said mosquito control measures must be sustained in view of the coming rainy season and the effects of climate change.
The figures continue a downward trend in the weekly rate. The cumulative total stood at 85,364 cases and 62 deaths on August 2, when the NDCU recorded an 18% fall in new cases week-on-week.
The two-year target is more ambitious than the timeline in the National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Dengue, which runs to 2030. Control efforts have been constrained by an insecticide shortage, with India handing over 500 litres of technical-grade Malathion on August 4 after Sri Lanka reported mosquito resistance to existing stocks.
Sources: Ada Derana.
