Sri Lankan Government recruits 1,500 to eradicate dengue mosquitoes

President Maithripala Sirisena presenting an appointment letter to a Health Services Assistant yesterday 

The Sri Lankan Government has made a policy decision to recruit 1,500 personnel as Mosquito Eradication Health Service Assistants to intensify the battle against dengue mosquitoes.

Already 500 Mosquito Eradication Health Service Assistants have been recruited in the Western Province. President Maithripala Sirisena, at a ceremony organised by the National Dengue Eradication Unit of the Health Ministry, yesterday presented appointment letters to the new recruits.

The Mosquito Eradication Health Service Assistants will be in service after two weeks of training, state TV reported.

With the new battalion of health officers, the Government aims to minimise the number of dengue patients during the first six months.

Sri Lanka is the third country which has appointed a permanent staff cadre to eradicate mosquitoes. Singapore and Cuba are at the forefront of mosquito eradication.

According to the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry, so far this year 22,562 suspected dengue cases have been reported to the unit from all over the island. Approximately 42% of dengue cases were reported from the Western Province.

The Epidemiology Unit says the situation warrants regular removal of possible mosquito breeding sites from the environment. (Colombopage)