Cleaning Colombo to eradicate dengue and to raise awareness on the epidemic

09/07/2016 – Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society in partnership with the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka (Media Unit), Dengue Unit of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka Tri Armed Forces, Sri Lanka Police, Civil Defense Force and the Colombo Municipal Council launched a dengue eradication and awareness campaign within the city limits of Colombo today.

Despite Colombo being a developed city there are many areas that are still prone towards dengue. In 2016 alone there are over 22,000 cases of dengue being reported from all parts of Sri Lanka which has resulted in 31 deaths.

Volunteers of Sri Lanka Red Cross along with other members will visit homes in the city of Colombo which are located in risk areas and will engage in an awareness and cleaning campaign.

Minister of Local Government and Provincial Council Faizer Mustapha, President of Sri Lanka Red Cross Jagath Abeysinghe, Director of the President’s Media Unit Chaminda Sirimalwatta, Deputy Director General of Sri Lanka Red Cross Sudath Madugalle and officials from the President’s Media Unit and members of the Three Armed Forces and other personnel were present during the launch of the campaign in Colombo 07.

Afterwards all members who joined in with this campaign engaged in activities of awareness and cleaning.