Dengue Hot on the Heels of Disaster

 Dr. Kapila Kannangara, Director of the National Dengue Control Unit, emphasizes that the primary challenge facing people affected by the current disaster situation is the dengue epidemic, and this risk is further increasing with the activation of the Northeast Monsoon.

To control this situation, the Ministry of Health and the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society jointly launched a special program named 'Simplified Early Action Protocol' starting yesterday (11), which was revealed at a press conference held at the Red Cross Society's main office in Colombo.

This program is primarily planned to be implemented focusing on the five districts where a high number of dengue patients are reported: Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Jaffna, and Kandy. Under this initiative, Red Cross volunteers and health officials will jointly carry out cleaning programs in school premises, educate teachers and children, and conduct cleaning campaigns and community awareness activities in areas frequently visited by the public in these districts.

Meanwhile, data confirms that 263 dengue patients have been reported from the Colombo district alone in the past week. Additionally, Dr. Kapila Kannangara pointed out that 146 patients were reported from Gampaha district, 68 from Ratnapura, 57 from Kalutara, 36 from Jaffna, 26 from Kurunegala, and 20 from Kegalle, emphasizing the need for urgent steps to control the spread of the epidemic.

Dr. Mahesh Gunasekara, Secretary-General of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, stated that this is the first time in the world that such a proactive action plan for dengue control is being implemented among the Red Cross Society network operating in 193 countries worldwide. He further added that this special project is scheduled to be implemented over a period of two years.