Health education, the main focus to control Dengue epidemic

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Senior Minister for Scientific Affairs Prof. Tissa Vitarana said that health education should be the main focus to control the Dengue epidemic and there should be a more sensible approach to combat it.

“I have been doing research on Dengue and I have been a member of the WHO Dengue Task Force since it was set up and also participated in the program to control Dengue throughout the world.”

As such, I have the expertise in this area. If my opinion is sought at any time, I am ready to offer it,” the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Prof. Vitarana said what is being done at present is going ahead with spraying Malathine and using Temephos which is a chemical to be put into water to destroy Dengue breeding grounds.

Malathine spraying has not been proven to be successful in controlling Dengue anywhere in the world. However, it is being pursued in our country and the result is that a false sense of complacency is created among people. It is felt that the Dengue problem could be solved by spraying Malathine.

These are some of the reasons as to why we have been unable to control Dengue. “I hope that there will be a more sensible approach in the days ahead. What is most important on the part of the people is not to permit breeding sites by discarding containers where rain water collects”, he said.

“I have also headed a committee appointed by former Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and studied the reports on the use of the Cuban BTI not only in Cuba but also in several other countries. The reports were favourable. Therefore, our committee unanimously recommended that the Cuban BTI should be used while Cuba also offered to give the first batch free. We should get rid of Dengue mosquito breeding in areas where the receptacles cannot be disposed off”. He regretted that those measures had not been properly implemented.