Absence of proper statistics on the current dengue epidemic is alarming: Joint opposition

• Statistics are not maintained in a proper manner. There is no system in place in a national level to gather information. There is no proper facts about deaths

By Yohan Perera

Absence of proper statistics on the current spread of dengue is alarming in a situation where the spread of the disease is reaching proportions of an epidemic, the joint opposition said yesterday.   
“The number reported dengue cases have exceeded 58,000 as of Wednesday. However the real number is much more than this. Statistics are not maintained in a proper manner. There is no system in place in a national level to gather information. There is no proper facts about deaths. What do the authorities intend doing if the hospitals run out of space? Treatment would become difficult if the number of cases increase further. Number of deaths will increase in such a situation,” Joint opposition member and one time health minister Rajitha Senaratne told a media briefing.   
Dr. Senaratne also said the following at the media briefing.   
Dengue which is spreading in all parts of the nation is fast reaching epidemic proportions. The last time we saw a dengue epidemic was in 2017. The disease spread across the globe during that time. Half of the world was identified as high risk zones during that time.  Sri Lanka was also in the high risk zone. What action has Sri Lanka taken to control the situation? If people focus on the preventive measures, it will be clear to them as to how difficult it is to control the spread of dengue. It is difficult to overcome a dengue epidemic, just like other epidemics.   
The Yahapalana government was able to control six diseases in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka been able to overcome Malaria which existed since 1930. Filariasis was eliminated during our tenure. In addition to diseases such as Rubella, Measles. We were also able to control Tetanus among children. Sri Lanka has been able to prevent the spread of HIV from pregnant mothers to children.   
Sri Lanka had to face dengue from 2012 and had to face an outbreak in 2016. It became worse in 2017.   
All hospitals were converted into dengue hospitals. Majority of hospital beds were used for dengue patients. High dependency units were created in hospitals. There were high dependency wards as well. Hospital staff were working 24 hours while post interns were also deployed. Medial teams were formed. Emergency medical care units were formed to send to high risk areas. Special labs were opened in each OPD. We created a care management protocol. Also we made people aware on what they should do. MOHs visited school children at their homes and carried out tests. Some 94 mobile US scanners were supplied to hospitals, 300 multi –para monitors, 505 infusion pumps, 150 adjustable beds, three hematocrit machines, 500 blood pressure testing machines were supplied. We even supplied equipment to private hospitals. The cost of dengue rapid tests were reduced to Rs 740 from Rs 2,200. The cost of full blood count test were reduced to Rs 150 from Rs 750. Queues in hospitals were reduced as a result of these measures.
The then government sent for a team of experts from World Health Organization. One team arrived from Thailand and another from India. They monitored the situation daily. They provided us with necessary advice.   
The security forces and the police were deployed to look at schools, state institutions and construction sites. 
Necessary gazette notifications were issued with regard to procedures. Police were asked to accompany PHIs to examine establishments. Some 1,500 were employed as clinical assistants.