Continuous people mobilisation for cleaner environment, need of the hour - Dr. Fernandopulle

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“There cannot be complacency. Even if the number of cases decline at any given point, it doesn’t mean that the dengue mosquito is gone for good.”

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By C.I. Munasinghe

The dengue epidemic is still a hot topic with the death toll rising daily, with 177 deaths recorded as at August 7.

Among others, the news reports on Friday of a teacher of D.S. Senanayaka Vidyalaya in Colombo 7 falling victim to this silent killer sent shockwaves among the city folk and brought them face to face with the reality that the epidemic is indeed continuing unabated. We will give further information to the public in this regard through this column, this week as well.

The more one is informed about the disease, the better it is, said Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle speaking to the Sunday Observer. A doctor of medicine and Member of Parliament for Katana, Dr. Fernandopulle said the public must not give themselves a false assurance that the BTI bacteria, Cuban or otherwise, is the remedy for all ills of dengue. “It is by no means something the people can fall back on and relax”, she stressed. “It is a pesticide that will kill the mosquito and help with the controls, but there will be instances where the BTI that is sprayed will not reach certain infested spots - like tiny nooks and corners that go unnoticed even to the human eye”, she explained.

“They need only a little water to thrive and breed”, It is a major issue and no amount of government services alone can solve it. It is the continued mobilisation of the people that will control the menace and total eradication is practically not possible, but it certainly could be controlled. The cleaner the environment, the less breeding grounds there will be”, she explained.

“Our attitudes have to change - everyone’s got to be more aware of their environment and clear their garbage responsibly. A clean environment within your vicinity to the best of your ability, and being vigilant of every spot that would be a potential site for these parasites to breed and destroying such sites are the only long-term solutions we have as preventive measures in controlling the disease”, she said.

With the next epidemic perhaps round the corner, no one can afford to lose time. It is the responsibility of every citizen to be involved in this a matter of life and death.

“While being helpful in destroying the dengue larvae, the BTI bacteria spray, which is like fogging, would destroy even the harmless and environmentally friendly insects. Insects that enrich the environment will also be destroyed in the process. This is what is of concern about the BTI to the Pesticide Authority”, she said.

Tracing the origin of the dengue menace, she said “Twenty years ago when we were students, we hardly heard of this and rarely came across dengue patients, because although the dengue mosquito was around, the virus was not. We had acquired the virus from outside the country. Once a dengue- infected person who’s in Sri Lanka is stung by a mosquito here, then that mosquito can spread the disease.”

Recently, a member of the Opposition, making a media statement which was aired many times over on a TV station, accused the government of placing the dengue problem upon the people. Commenting on this, Dr. Fernandopulle said “It is indeed the people who have to collectively control the dengue spread. The Government can take all preventive measures possible.”

As a doctor, she said the Health Ministry can handle the dengue cases, but it is the collective effort of the people which can eventually control the disease where the environment is concerned.

It would be more effective if the people adhere to a disciplined way of living as regards to being environmental conscious at all times.

“The people have to be made aware and informed”, she said.

Dr. Fernandopulle’s action plan for her electorate on dengue control is being implemented; village committees have been set up to monitor the respective areas and a week’s notice is given to take action on identified mosquito breeding sites. All schools have thus been advised. “I work with them”, says the hands-on MP who believes in team work for the best results, “I monitor the outcome of these projects. There have been no deaths reported in the electorate and only four dengue cases thus far”, she said. And as for the treatment of dengue patients, she advises the public not to treat themselves, but to consult a qualified doctor.

On news reports of the President having sought her opinion on papaya leaf extract as a treatment for dengue, she said, “He did inquire from me about the papaya leaf extract on which a research paper has been done. I informed him that there is no harm in taking it, of course along with Western medication that is prescribed by a doctor to a dengue patient. I heard that this papaya leaf extract helps the platelet count to increase, if that is so, it would help dengue patients very much as their platelet count declines with the virus.

The Sunday Observer recently published an interview with Dr. Sanath Hettige who had carried out research successfully on the papaya leaf extract and is currently awaiting clearance for its formal use.

As my first interview with the lady Parliamentarian came to an end, I could not help but admire and think of the famous saying, ‘Behind every successful man, there is a woman’. This has proved true, time and time again.

It was true, for many great men of the world. It was true for one time frontline Minister, the late Jeyeraj Fernandopulle.

The entire country was to see the strength behind him after his demise, when his wife Sudarshani a doctor of medicine by profession, who had quietly but strongly stood by his side, stepped out to carry out the great work he sadly and suddenly left behind.

She emerged not just a winner, but with a record number of votes- the second highest number of preference votes for the Gampaha district, on the preferential list at the last general election.

At a time when politics does not entice those who should be in Parliament, it is indeed refreshing to see someone so suitable to sit in those august chambers. Behind every successful Government there are learned women, women of substance- and it augers well for the ruling party to have such personalities among their ranks who have already made the women of this country proud.