South Asian countries to unite in dengue fight

The World Health Organization (WHO) will launch a special programme to unite all South Asian Region countries to fight against dengue fever.

"At the moment, countries are fighting individually to control dengue without significant progress," a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, a three day workshop is now being conducted in Colombo with the participation of over 100 specialist

doctors from Sri Lanka, India,Thailand, Bangladesh, Singapore, Indonesia, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan in connection with the eradication of dengue from the South East Asian Region.

Commencing the workshop, Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayatilleke said the most severe dengue outbreak reported from

Sri Lanka was last year, with over 44,000 cases. Sri Lanka has formulated a five year strategic plan to control dengue. The main strategies are disease surveillance, case management, vector surveillance, integrated vector control, social mobilization, outbreak response, communication, inter sectoral coordination and research. The plan operates at national and provincial level. There is a Presidential Task Force to control dengue.

Pointing out the problems faced by Sri Lankan health authorities, Dr. Jayatilleke said the public should make it a priority to control

dengue, considering it a health and not an environmental problem. SEARO and Sri Lankan Health Ministry officials were also present at the workshop.

(source: www.dailynews.lk)