Monsoon rains, Covid-19 and dengue - EDITORIAL

The monsoon, which commenced in early October, has already resulted in over 20 deaths. Over 62,247 persons -17,481 families- have been dehoused and been forced to seek shelter in temples/churches, schools and or different relief centres set up by the authorities. 960 houses were partially damaged, and 18 were totally destroyed.
This is not the first time the country has had to face this type of situation. Every year without fail, innocent lives are needlessly lost to overflowing rivers, earth slips causing homes to collapse and even burying alive families living in them. This year was no exception. 

However, the authorities do not seem interested in seeking permanent solutions to a problem, which keeps occurring year-in-and-year-out. In the rural areas, a single deluge ruins the economy of particular farming communities resulting in more families joining the growing list of the ‘new poor’. 
Despite over seventy years of independence, no government has yet come up with a semblance of a plan, which could at the very least, mitigate the ill-effects of the monsoon rains in the country. Those living in low-lying areas, river basins and areas in the hilly regions continue facing the same old problem. 
Government’s response has been to offer a pittance of relief amid mega press briefings. 

Today, in addition we are in the midst of the battle against Covid-19 pandemic, with hospitals unable to cope with the numbers of Covid-19 patients and the health care system reaching near breaking point, countering the pandemic became the number one priority of the government. Sadly at the expense of other major health concerns.
Dr. Kanishka de Silva (Consultant Oncological Surgeon of the National Cancer Institute of Sri Lanka) points out; while there have been more diagnosed cases of coronavirus, death rates among cancer patients outstripped deaths among Covid patients.   

The number of reported cancer deaths in 2012 was 12,581. On the other hand, the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Sri Lanka is around 0.45% of the total confirmed cases showing cancer has a much higher morbidity and mortality rate when compared to COVID-19. 
 Similarly statistics of the Epidemiology Unit show a total of 31,162 suspected dengue cases were reported last year (2020).This year the numbers of suspected cases are already over 15,248 and the numbers are rising.

Yet, mosquito-borne ‘dengue prevention programmes  became one of the early victims of cost cutting and more or less abandoned, as efforts were directed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Blocked and filthy drains – the breeding grounds for the dengue mosquitos - dotting the city bear ample testimony to the short-sighted policies of ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’. 
The non-implementation of anti-dengue dengue programmes has resulted in the dreaded disease making a strong comeback. According to reports, at least 90 clinically confirmed dengue deaths have been reported from different parts of the country. Since the introduction of the Covid-19 vaccine programme this year, the numbers of patients testing positive to the virus have fallen drastically. 

While this is a good sign, the recent easing of Covid-19 regulations, health authorities have pointed out that numbers have spiked during the past week. They warn of a possible new wave of the disease hitting the country, if health guidelines are not strictly adhered to.
Government’s failure to control the second and the third waves of the pandemic via easing of prescribed health guidelines during the Sinhala/Tamil New Year are still fresh in our memories and led to a spike in Covid-19 cases and deaths. 
Today, while there is a general shortage of cooking gas in the market, people are forced to listen to foolish MPs’ and even ministers’ lecture to the population on the free availability of the product.

A silver lining in the otherwise darkened horizon was the introduction of the Covid-19 vaccination programme earlier this year, which led to a drop in the numbers of people testing positive to Covid-19 and resultant deaths. However, health experts warn that unless guidelines are adhered to, another spike in numbers is a distinct possibility.  
Misguided policies by government and emphasis on short-term strategies to combat health and environmental targets has led to worsening of existing situations. It is time the government takes long-term measures to combat health problems. Government needs to look to Bangladesh for possible measures to counter monsoon flooding which in earlier times led to several deaths and destruction in that country with the onset of each monsoon season in that country.