Statistics of dengue fever victims in Jaffna peninsula undisclosed

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 July 2010, 06:15 GMT]
Health service related Non-government organizations in Jaffna peninsula accuse Sri Lanka government for not disclosing the true statistics of dengue victims, particularly children in the rural areas in recent times. Though monthly meetings are held to prevent the spread of dengue and to create awareness of prevention are held nothing mentionable has resulted from these meetings which have become mere formalities where government politicians take photographs for the media, they further said. The NGOs said they have the statistics of dengue fever victims which show a sharp increase in the recent times.



The monthly meeting to control and prevent dengue fever in Jaffna peninsula was held Thursday in Jaffna Director of Public Health Services office presided by Northern Province Governor, Major Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri.

Jaffna mayor Ms. Yogeswary Patkunam, newly appointed Jaffna Government Agent, Ms. Imelda Sukumar and health department officials participated in the meeting.

Plans were discussed to create awareness of dengue fever for prevention area wise and at school levels in the above meeting.



The NGOs said that these plans end up without being executed and that their own statistics show the increase in dengue victims, particularly children, in the past months in the interior villages of the peninsula.

Though awareness campaign had been introduced by health authorities in several areas they have been mere eyewash activities without producing any positive results, the NGOs said.