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Wednesday, 18 December 2019 03:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Nuwan Senarathna
In a move to minimise the spread of dengue, Western Province Governor Dr. Seetha Arambepole has decided to form a designated operation centre to respond and coordinate with line Ministries and State institutions, to clean up the province.
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Western Province Governor Dr. Seetha Arambepole - Pic by Lasantha Kumara |
Speaking for the first time to media since assuming office, Dr. Arambepole noted the Western Province was the hardest hit by dengue fever. She stressed that immediate action was needed to prevent spreading dengue.
“We need to act immediately to prevent dengue becoming an epidemic. A team is needed to prevent dengue. We have to get all parties together and set up a mechanism to prevent dengue. As the first step we are expecting to form this designated operation centre,” Dr. Arambepole said.
According to Dr. Arambepole, the operation centre will operate 24 hours of the day and a hotline will be introduced, which allows the public to lodge complaints if authorities failed to take immediate action to prevent dengue.
Dr. Arambepole said the operation centre will be equipped to carry out operations to prevent dengue and raise awareness of the public. “The operation centre will operate from the Governor’s office. We are expecting to include experts of the health sector and those had experience in carrying out prevention activities.”
She pointed out that the centre will coordinate with all three District Secretariats and local government offices of the Western Province. Dr. Arambepole noted the operation centre would conduct separate operations to prevent dengue and clean the Western Province.
The Epidemiology Unit of Health Ministry stated that so far this year 90, 200 suspected dengue cases were reported from all over the island. According to the Epidemiology Unit’s data, 45% of dengue cases were reported from the Western Province.
