Drive against mosquitoes in flood-hit areas

by Ananda KANNANGARA

[email protected]
 

An islandwide program to clear mosquito breeding grounds in flood affected areas will be launched by the Health Ministry from tomorrow.

The Health Ministry will seek the assistance of all Divisional Secretariats, Pradeshiya Sabhas, hospitals and health centres in the country to make the program a success.

Schoolchildren in flood affected areas will assist the Health Ministry’s mosquito eradication program following a request by Minister De Silva from Zonal Educational Divisions.

Health Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva told the Sunday Observer that there were numerous complaints from all parts of the country, especially from flood-hit areas that there were possibilities of mosquito borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya spreading following the massive floods experienced in the country last week.

He said steps will also be taken to destroy mosquito breeding grounds in home gardens, school compounds and garbage collecting centres due to heavy rains islandwide.

“Mosquito breeding places were found even in the city of Colombo in home gardens and popular school compounds following raids carried out by health officials,” he said.

The Minister also that it was the responsibility of all concerned to locate possible mosquito breeding places and destroy them without waiting for the health officials to carry out eradication programs.