Who is taking whom for a ride?

This week we reported several success stories in the healthcare sphere. Sri Lanka has virtually eradicated filaria, controlled malaria to the lowest level and is on the threshold of attaining Millennium Development Goals with regard to eradicating tuberculosis. This shows that Sri Lanka has committed healthcare workers, if they are properly guided and supplied with the necessary wherewithal to do their job.

The Dengue eradication program unfortunately has not been so successful. In fact it has so far relied more on the vagaries of the weather than on human activity. It has been the practice of healthcare officials and others in charge to blame the weather and the community when the epidemic is on the rise and claim credit for themselves when dry weather sets in and the epidemic is on the wane. Nevertheless it rises again with unfailing certainty as no long-term remedies are taken.

It has also been the custom to dangle Cuban expertise and Cuban bio-larvicide Bactivec (BTI) and lull the people into believing that something will be done soon to control the epidemic. There is no continuous effort to obtain community participation in cleaning the environs and in controlling mosquito breeding grounds. Any campaign that is started becomes only cosmetic for politicians and other participants are more interested in getting television footage than doing a good job of work. The mission is abandoned as soon as the TV crews leave.

As far as Cuban expertise is concerned experts from that country had come to Sri Lanka three times and so far no result has been found. Various excuses have been given by certain stakeholder parties either to abandon the project or postpone it.

We just give below certain news reports we ourselves have carried concerning Cuban assistance and the use of BTI.

"According to the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry Media Coordinator W. M. D. Wanninayake, the Bacillus Thuringenesis Israelensis Bacteria (BTI) will be brought to Sri Lanka within next few days."(Daily News July 2, 2009)

"Two Cuban epidemiologists Dr Ms Yelina and Dr Aramis Martinez arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (21) morning" (Daily News July 22, 2009)

"The Ministry in a press release yesterday said that Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) is the only local institution which has so far produced the BTI bacteria in a scientific manner and sought Ministry approval to produce it on a commercial scale... According to Dr Samarasekera the ITI will complete its production of BTI within the next 40 days, the release said." (Daily News August 12, 2009)

"Cuban epidemiologist Dr Aramis Martinez and Assistant Epidemiologist Dr Yelina Abang submitted their report on Dengue fever in Sri Lanka to the Healthcare Ministry yesterday, a Ministry spokesman said." (Daily News August 15, 2009)

"A Cabinet memorandum will be soon submitted to implement the recommendations included in the report submitted by two Cuban epidemiologists Dr Aramis Martinez and Dr Ms. Yelina." (Daily News August 26, 2009)

"The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry will make arrangements within one month to coordinate between the Sri Lankan and Cuban Governments to obtain Cuban Air Force assistance to train Sri Lankan Air Force officers on aerial spraying of BTI using MI 17 helicopters, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said." (Daily News September 12, 2009)

"Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva will submit a Cabinet memorandum next Wednesday to obtain funds for the implementation of Dengue control measures recommended by the local experts' committee. The recommendations are based on the report submitted by Cuban epidemiologists, Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry sources said." (Daily News September 19, 2009)

"Cabinet approval has been granted for a memorandum submitted by Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to spend Rs 200 million on aerial spray of BTI (Bacillus Thuringenesis Israelenses) bacteria to control Dengue mosquito density, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said." (Daily News November 23, 2009)

"..the Deputy Director General, Health Services, Public Health Dr Palitha Maheepala said that the Ministry will buy BTI bacteria from Cuba as soon as the Cabinet grants its ratification. Earlier the Cabinet granted the approval to spend Rs 200 million on aerial spray of BTI..." (Daily News February 20, 2010)

Who is taking whom for a ride?