Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has instructed officials to convene a special meeting involving District Secretaries and other relevant stakeholders from 14 districts experiencing a rapid spread of dengue, with coordination by the Ministry of Public Administration.
The directive was issued during a high-level discussion held at the Ministry of Health yesterday (15) to review urgent measures required to curb the spread of dengue.
The meeting focused on the dengue situation in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kandy, Matale, Batticaloa, and Badulla districts.
According to the Ministry of Health, extensive discussions were held on the current dengue situation, control programmes implemented so far, hospital preparedness, the progress of mosquito control operations, and challenges faced in carrying out prevention activities.
Attention was also paid to strengthening community participation and securing the support of community organisations, local government authorities, other state institutions, and the security forces.
The Minister stressed the importance of maintaining dengue prevention programmes continuously and effectively and instructed officials to accelerate ongoing initiatives.
He also highlighted the need for an urgent public awareness campaign to educate the public on dengue prevention measures.
The discussion further reviewed activities planned under the National Dengue Control Week, which is being held from 15 to 20 June, and officials were instructed to treat related activities as priority and emergency services.
The meeting also explored the possibility of introducing new dengue control programmes based on international best practices, with the Minister directing officials to take the necessary follow-up action.
