Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana highlighted that a collective approach is a must to eradicate the dengue menace from the country.
He stressed that the Health Ministry or health sector institutions alone cannot control the dengue outbreak in the country, unless a collective effort of all stakeholders, including the public, local government institutions and social workers, is undertaken.
The Minister made these remarks while addressing a media briefing at the President’s Media Division in Colombo yesterday.
He said that 52 persons died of dengue last year, while a significant number of people contracted dengue.
Speaking on the recent outbreak of measles again in the country, which had been declared as a measles-free country by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Minister said that new patients were reported as some parents were reluctant to get their children vaccinated. With the finding of new patients, the health sector is giving a special dose for babies aiming to eradicate measles soon from the country again.
When the Minister was questioned about the medicine scarcity, he said that a transparent mechanism is being implemented to the entire process of medicine procurement with the assistance of computer science faculties of both Colombo and Moratuwa Universities. He added that the scarcity of medicines can be resolved by the end of this year with the implementation of new and efficient methods for medicine procurement.
“The activities of National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) are being computerized now and after that medicine procurement can be monitored online,” he said.
When asked, the Minister said that 1,200 doctors have applied for leave to go abroad. Most of them are going for training courses while others are going abroad for employment. According to the Minister, those seeking employment abroad intend to come back to the country after a few years.
Dharma Sri Abeyratne