A fresh appeal has been made to residents to manage mosquito population as cases of Chikungunya continue to rise and Dominica observes World Health Day.
Chief environmental health officer, Anthony Scotland, said the collection of water in drums around homes is a major concern for authorities who are tackling the problem.
“What we have found out is our residents breed those mosquitoes mostly in the drums around their buildings,” he said. “Whether it is the cost of water that is causing that problem, or whether is just a cultural habit that people just love to have a lot of water around them.”
He said residents must make sure drums are properly covered and protected.
“The critical thing is to protect the drums, make sure that these drums are covered and prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the drums, lay their eggs and perpetuate,” he noted. “We can reduce the big threats by managing the small bites.”
He also urged against visiting infected areas since this can spread the disease to places that are not infected.
Scotland encouraged the use of long sleeves and the use of insect repellents as a form of combating mosquito bites.
World Health Day, which is being observed on Monday under the global theme, “Small Bites Big Threats,” is focusing on Vectors and Vector –borne Diseases.
Vector-borne diseases are infectious diseases spread by intermediate organisms, such as insects, including mosquitoes, flies, ticks, and snails that transmit viruses, parasites, and bacteria to humans. These diseases cause a high burden of illness and death for individuals, their families, and communities, especially in poorer countries.
Coordinator of Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health, Nurse Anthelia James, said a number of activities will be held to provide protection and heightened awareness of vector-borne diseases in Dominica.
“We know these diseases are a major threat around the world, including Dominica and the Caribbean,” she said. “These diseases cause a major burden not only on the economic purse, but also on persons. They affect the productivity of the country, they cause absenteeism…so this really lends to the discussion that has started already about vectors, although we will be broadening the discussion and not only focusing on mosquitoes.”
Meanwhile Jolly’s Pharmacy has joined in the fight against Chikungunya and other vector-borne diseases.
Pharmacist Carlton Lanquedoc said the company has collaborated with the ministry of health on World Health Day in disseminating information on such diseases.
“We are just basically sensitizing the public on some of the precautions and measures that they can take to avert such a disease or any other vector borne disease,” he said at a display outside the pharmacy on Monday.
On display were various literature on Leptospirosis, Chikungunya, Dengue, as well as insecticides, repellents and medications for those already infected with Chikungunya.
He urged residents to keep their surroundings clean and to clean roof top guttering, which he said is normally ignored and can be an ideal place for mosquito breeding.
Jolly’s is also offering discounts on Monday on certain items related to fighting Chikungunya.
Chikungunya is a viral disease which is spread by the aedes agypti mosquito. Presently there are around 81 confirmed cases of the disease in Dominica.
what can these bunch of brain dead ministers manage
that is why CHANGE IS A MUST to that i rise
Who needs a brain when you can steal.
The emphasis seems to be on ‘people’ ensuring drums etc are emptied.
The situation is now so grave that the Government should employ people whose specific role it is to visit houses/areas/communities, to ensure the necessary precautions are carried out.
They should ensure that abandoned vehicles, drums are emptied or removed. Warnings should be given, where ownership of these items can be ascertained. If they fail to act upon these warnings, then they should be fined.
I am a firm believer that example must start at the top. In that connection Management of DNO can you advise the Minister of Health to open the canal adjacent to one of his homes in Mero please.( for fear that you may not publish my comment I will not describe that S house by its other and more popular name) While you are doing so there is another blocked canal about half way of that popular beach that needs to be opened also. Death to mosquitoes !!
Of course I could save you the trouble and submit a picture of both of these blockages if the facility existed on your site.
As a visitor to Dominica it would be helpful to know what are the infected areas / not infected areas.
Peoplle need to go back to the old era,clean around your homes,open containers should not be kept with water.Stagnant water should be drained out,these chemicals that are on display are very dangerous to our bodies.
Is the government going to spray again? Last time (a month or so ago) it worked well to kill them off for quite a few days.
Of course it’s always the peoples fault. Let me tell you something: most households in Calibishie are forced to collect water in drums due to the totally inadequate and unreliable supply of water by Dowasco. Furthermore, the road drains in Calibishie are in a state of total disrepair and the water is not draining of at all. I would call that an ideal breeding ground for Mosquitos. In fact most of the inhabitants in the flat in Calibishie have been affected by the disease. So, I would blame Dowasco and the government for totally neglecting Calibishie. But of course it’s easier to blame the citizens.
i think that almost 95 % of households owners in dominica are doing there best to stop mosquito breeding around there homes
the real problem whit mosquito breeding is in the bushes ,swamps,drains etc but look on the other hand what do people like oliver st john knows about environmental health and vector control this man has no training in this field so my dear government stop wasting tax payers money and take back vector control from these people before it’s to late
Great job mr lanquedoc – great asset to jollys and the ministry of health . This pharmacist is passionate about healthcare in Dominica .
Great job jollys pharmacy and as usual my favorite pharmacist has spearheaded the cause , great job mr lanquedoc !
What has happened to Dominica? It was not like this in the 1980’s everything has dropped. The Govt cannot even control a few mosquitoes. Geez!
When the vector control were working as a team with effective EHO’s as Ms Shevon Letaing in the Grand bay District Pettetson wiltshire. In the mahaut District.t Franklin Edwards in EMMANUEL Dubois In the Portsmouth district Pappy Joe in the Viellecase District Ferdinar Carbon in the Marigot District and others with the vector control Team Members the job was performed more effectively because the team would visit the entire country on a weekly and daily scheduled privatising is not good for this programme and this privatising was done by this labour government who came to mash up and destroy. Programme which is more sustainble
Instead of brining water Dominica the container should be filled of supplies to give out to homes and school for prevention of this outbreak.
Good move
Hi Dominican And chief the labour government should never privatise vector control .I am a former officer of the programme . We did an effective jobs by moving from point to point as a unit not a one man show with effective EHO such as. Papy Joe in the Portsmouth District Emmanuel Dubois in viellecase District Peterson Will shire Maxima villigant . Ms Shevon. letaing in the GrandBay District
Ferdinar Carbon in marigot Arvin and Daniel Lewis in the
north And South of the Island it was of great success .please bring back the group that will performed all over the country so this common goal can be accomlish labour party privatise and has confused the programme which is less effective square pegs in wrong hole labour health minister.