News
DG Health calls for cooperation as this year’s third countrywide anti dengue campaign is launched
View(s):- SLAF to use drones to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites
By Dilushi Wijesinghe
Dr. Asela Gunawardena
The Health Ministry will launch a nationwide dengue eradication campaign from tomorrow to July 5 with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and other stakeholders, including the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) and Education Ministry.
The campaign, which includes aerial surveillance using drones, aims to identify and clear mosquito breeding sites.
NDCU Consultant Community Physician Preshila Samaraweera said the unit is coordinating the campaign. “Our supervision teams will accompany the troops during the eradication drive,” she added.
“This is the third special program this year,” Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena told the Sunday Times. “Usually, this is something we do every year. With the monsoon, we all know that the number of cases goes up.”
The campaign will take place in 16 regional district health service areas, covering 111 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions where the highest number of dengue cases have been reported.
“Even in the MOH areas, they will identify the case divisions where the most number of cases are coming up, and they will be doing an epidemiological survey,” Dr. Gunawardena said.
For aerial surveillance, the SLAF will provide its drones to capture images of rooftops and inaccessible sites. “These aerial pictures are very helpful, as we can identify breeding sites on rooftops,” Dr. Gunawardena said.
The SLAF said that 130 personnel will be deployed to cover areas including Dehiwala, Borella, Wanathamulla, Kuppiyawatta, Narahenpita, and Kirulapone.
“With the onset of the monsoon and the collection of stagnant water, there’s a high potential for mosquito breeding. These breeding sites must be identified and cleared; otherwise, we will see a rise in dengue cases,” Dr. Gunawardena warned.
Waste management is a core focus of the campaign, targeting public spaces as well as private establishments. “We aim to identify potential breeding sites and encourage people to dispose of waste properly. If waste isn’t managed correctly, there’s a high risk of mosquito breeding,” he noted.
In addition to support from the Tri-Forces and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the Health Ministry has called on private factories and construction sites to cooperate. “Some private factories and construction sites are involved, and we’re working with indigenous technical knowledge holders in those areas. They will coordinate efforts centrally and organise activities at the divisional level,” he said.
While Colombo remains a high-risk area, breeding sites have been identified in both urban and suburban regions. “All these places have a high potential for mosquito breeding. Most of them are already experiencing active breeding situations,” Dr. Gunawardena added.
Calling for a collective effort, he stressed, “Even though this is carried out by the Health Department, it is not solely their responsibility. Every citizen has an individual duty to contribute.”
“It should not only be a government approach to reduce the number of cases. As individuals, we must take responsibility for keeping our homes and workplaces clean,” he added. “If our workplaces have breeding sites, we are all vulnerable to the risk.”
As of June 26, the NDCU has identified 34 high-risk MOH areas, and 16 dengue-related deaths have been reported.
Furthermore, responding to the Ministry’s earlier statement on “naming and shaming” schools identified as mosquito breeding grounds, Dr. Gunawardena said, “We can identify and provide the exact names and locations of the breeding sites we uncover. However, the final decision on whether to release that information is vested with the Ministry Secretary.”
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