Conduct dengue eradication programmes before reopening academic institutions: Ministry

The Education Ministry has instructed the relevant officials to conduct a countrywide dengue prevention campaign at all academic institutions, which were closed due to COVID-19 pandemic, before reopening.

The ministry said academic institutions including schools, Piriwen Schools, Colleges of Education, Teaching Centers should conduct the prevention campaign to eradicate dengue.

This should be done before the reopening of all academic institutions. The Ministry said this dengue eradication programmes should be conducted to protect schoolchildren from dengue infection. School sanitation workers, gardeners, security officials and other non-academic staff members are requested to join in the dengue eradication campaign.

The Provincial Educational Directors, Zonal Educational Directors, Principals of all Teachers’ Training Colleges and Colleges of Education and past pupils associations are also requested to take necessary measures to convert all schools into dengue-free zones. All cleaning programmes should be conducted according to the COVID-19 prevention instructions given by the Government, the Ministry added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)