Improper waste disposal, main cause for waterborne diseases:

Clean environment, to combat Dengue

by Carol Aloysius

One of the most worrying fears of victims caught up in the double tragedies that occurred within the space of a few weeks, are their potential health impacts.

Health officials have raised concerns of an outbreak of Dengue Fever due to the ongoing rains and the improper waste. According to the Government Epidemiology Unit ( GEU) 18,735 suspected cases of Dengue Fever (DF) have been reported during the first six months of the year, upto Thursday this week, with 49,21% from the Western Province. In June alone 616 cases were reported.

Dengue Fever

Although there is a sharp decline in the overall figures islandwide, health officials raised concerns of a sudden spike in this deadly disease due to the ongoing rains.Ominous signs this could happen anytime are already there, they warn pointing at the garbage piles scattered along the roads, outside eating houses and near public offices and buildings, as well as homes.

"They attract flies, dogs, cats, crows and are ideal breeding sites for any kind of contagious disease", Community Consultant Physician National Dengue Prevention Campaign , Dr Preshilla Samaraweera said.

"There is no vaccine for Dengue . The best and most effective weapon is maintaining clean environments", she emphasized.Meanwhile, some innovative measures to resolve this problem are worthy of mention. One is the Western Provincial Director, Dr Deepthi Perera's concept of 'Cleaner, Greener, Environmentally friendly' cities that come under the Western Province Directorate. While highlighting that waste generation in the Western Province is higher than any other province she said, the bulk of garbage comes from domestic waste, which if not disposed of properly can lead to dengue and other diseases.

Around 45% to 55% of dengue breeding sites are found in yoghurt cups, used plastic bottles, coconut shells and polythene - most of them dumped in backyards or nearby unattended land by those wanting to avoid red notices and fines, she says citing the National Dengue Control Unit.

Others empty these plastic items into sili sili bags mixed with perishable waste to be dispatched to the garbage dump. Our studies have shown that such improper waste disposal is the main cause for the spread of dengue in the Western Province," she pointed out.

Dr Perera's solution is simple:

Recycle this garbage. It will not only reduce, but earn some revenue for the country as well as for those engaged in the work.

The authorities are now looking at management of waste as an avenue of dealing with dengue.

"We have introduced a set of coloured bags to be used for the separation of different types of recyclable waste in a clean manner. It can be done at the very place where the garbage is collected- at home or in the work place, so there is no need to send it to the garbage dumps, already reaching skywards. The coloured bags are durable and washable, as they are made of taffeta (umbrella material.) Storing them is not a problem either. By hanging them on a wall outside the back door of the house where it is easily accessible and not exposed to rain water will cut down dengue mosquito breeding places by 50%.", she predicts.

Goal

Initially, the bags have been distributed among the 1,300 health staff in the three main districts of the WP- i.e.Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara, at subsidized rates ( around Rs 200 each). But Dr Perera is hopeful householders will start using these bags to separate their recyclable waste. " If washed after use the waste will be clean. Sewing these bags can also be a source of income for those in the tailoring business", she added.

"Our goal is to establish a 'sampath piyasa' or collecting centre for every Divisional Secretary division for residents to hand over the separated recyclable waste.", she said.

Commenting on the garbage dumps at Meethotamulla, Karadiyana and Dompe , now inundated with waste channelled from flood affected areas and the Salawa area , she said, the relevant authorities should develop alternative mechanisms, encouraging public in unaffected areas to take care of their own waste independently, by waste separation and composting. "We have already developed the mechanism for collecting recyclable waste generated in health institutions by signing an MOU with Sri Lanka Recyclers Association.", she said.

Rat Fever

The heavy rains experienced islandwide, also prompted health officials to warn those engaged in paddy farming and cleaning canals and drains to beware of Leptospirosis. ( Rat Fever). Epidemiology Unit this year recorded 130 cases of Rat Fever in the first three months, while the Colombo Municipal Council declared a Rat Control Month in March as the rodent population in the city had risen sharply.

CMC Chief MOH Dr Ruwan Wijeymuni has highlighted the need for a good pest control system and garbage disposal system saying increased rats reflect poor hygiene and low socio economic standards, since most rats were found in slums and shanties where people lived in close proximity to each other. Epidemiology Unit sources said all groups at risk should take Doxycycilin tablets prior to going out to work as a preventive measure.

Will our garbage piles be reduced to just a bad memory of the past? Only time will tell.