News

Even National Hospital is breeding mosquitoes

By Nadia Fazlulhaq

With the dengue epidemic raging to alarming proportions and the people being put on full alert, health officials disclosed yesterday that the National Hospital itself and the Urban Development Authority were among state institutions that were warned by the Colombo Municipal Council’s Public Health Department for having mosquito breeding places.

The warnings came as the number of dengue-related deaths and cases rose at a frightening rate while health officials are struggling to control the situation by sending warning notices and even taking legal action.

Some 170 dengue-related deaths and 16,180 cases have been reported islandwide this year with Gampaha, Kandy and Colombo districts reporting the highest number of deaths.

More than 80 cases have been filed in courts and around 2,000 warning notices to residences and government institutions in Colombo, a CMC health officer said.

Among the government institutions that are having abandoned lands, waterways, buildings and construction sites that encourage mosquito breeding are the Urban Development Authority and the Land Reclamation Board.

“There are a number of construction sites in the city and most of them have water stagnating places and objects. Recently a construction site in Havelock Town was also given a warning as several dengue cases have been around the area,” he said.

The officer said the National Hospital had been warned to clean its surroundings and the hospital premises itself. “The drains in the hospital are encouraging mosquito breeding and as there are patients it is highly dangerous,” he said.

The health officer also said the present garbage crisis in the city would worsen the situation as containers in the garbage could hold fresh water and thereby encourage dengue mosquito breeding.
All the schools in Colombo have been instructed to organize cleaning campaigns as blocked drains, gutters and garbage may encourage mosquito breeding.

He said bus depots and railway stations especially rail tracks were major mosquito attractors as there were discarded tyres and small containers thrown throughout the rail track by passengers.

Kandys Health Director Dr. S. Gamage said although they were able to control the spreading of dengue in Akurana, there was an increase in Pusselawa, Gampola and Udunuwara. “The most recent deaths were those of two expectant mothers. They were in the Peradeniya hospital for some days and were infected with dengue virus. We found that in the vicinity of the hospital many construction sites that are ideal breeding sites,” he said.

Dr. Gamage said strict actions would be taken against those who encouraged mosquito breeding sites and warnings had been sent to a number of institutions, including the Akurana hospital.

Ratnapura health officials have sent more than 250 warning letters and filed eight cases. Courts and police stations also have been advised to clean up their premises.

The Nugegoda Medical Officer of Health (MoH) said warning notices had been sent to several institutions including the Udahamulla bus depot where discarded tyres were seen all over.
The Maharagama MoH said schools in the division had breeding spots and principals had been directed to act immediately.

Dr. Hasitha Tissera of the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry said the prevailing unpredictable weather conditions might cause an increase in mosquito breeding and the public should be on full alert.

 
Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
 
Other News Articles
Another fuel blunder
Even National Hospital is breeding mosquitoes
President orders crackdown on Dambulla mafia
Govt. seeks billions outside budget ahead of polls
Buried barrels carry LTTE document
Health is wealth
Journalists to be honoured with ‘Awards of Excellence’
All set for biggest media night
Sunday Times links up with Twitter
Office bearers of the Editors’ Guild
Odds & Ends
War victim, 13, to get proper medical help
‘Small Miracle’ in ‘big’ controversy
Father’s suicide caused by school’s cruel treatment of his children, says mother
IBAHRI seeks protection for justice system, lawyers, media
Damned if you do and damned if you don't
Mannar oil drive could harm whales, dolphins
Check points for malaria
Cuban health experts to assess local impact of Bti
All’s not well in the health sector
IDPs struck by meningitis and encephalitis
Police set to bust Colombo gangs
Military men nabbed over bank officer’s killing
Bar Association condemns ministry website slur on three lawyers
President orders crackdown on child pornography on the net
Council withdraws no-poll resolution

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 2009 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved.| Site best viewed in IE ver 6.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution