Training for officials in combating dengue

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Health sector officials have been trained on the technical aspects of eradicating the dengue epidemic, according to Health Ministry sources.

Health Ministry, Additional Secretary Dr. Palitha Maheepala told the Sunday Observer that although the Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) has claimed several lives during the past eight months of this year, the Government has taken every possible measure to control the dengue menace.

Commending the setting up of the Presidential Task Force on Dengue on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Dr. Maheepala said it was the duty of every citizen in the country to clear garbage, land and drains regularly in their areas.

Dr. Thushanthi Wijesinghe of the Epidemiology Unit, Health Ministry said that only 50 percent of the households in the country had taken proper measures to destroy mosquito breeding grounds in their home gardens.

She said that every household should collect discarded tyres, plastic bottles, used coconut shells and heaps of garbage which are the main breeding grounds for mosquitoes.