With the threat of the mosquito-borne Zika Virus looming over the island, the Government of Dominica has initiated a massive islandwide cleanup campaign on Thursday, February 18, 2016.
The day has been dubbed, ‘National Mosquito Reduction Campaign Day’ under the theme “Stop Mosquito Breeding Today, Keep Zika Away.”
According to Minister of Health and Environment, Kenneth Darroux, this initiative was introduced in support of the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Environment to reduce the population of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, the main transmitter of the virus.
“The aim of this campaign is to mitigate against the threat of Zika disease in Dominica by reducing mosquito breeding though a massive, concentrated clean-up activity involving all institutions in the society,” Darroux said in a National Address on Tuesday.
The Minister petitioned the help of every individual to reach the goal of reducing the Aedes Aeypti population.
“My Government and I endeavour to utilize a multi-sectoral population-based, rigorous approach to achieve the goal of reducing Aedes Aegypti population in Dominica and prevent the spread of the disease in the population,” he stated. “We are therefore soliciting the support of all Dominicans by issuing this call to destroy mosquito breeding sites.”
Thus, Citizens are urged to be part of source reduction activities, including the removal of waste from the environment, as it was found to be the “most effective strategy in reducing the spread of disease,” according to Darroux.
Dominicans are asked to rid their environment of household waste such as: refrigerators, stoves, Styrofoam containers, drums for collecting water, and other receptacles that can hold water.
Darroux explained that the Government will provide the resources needed to support the activity.
“The Government of Dominica will be making available the necessary resources to support this activity to ensure its success. We believe that our collective action will surely make a difference,” he noted.
It was recently revealed by Darroux that the Government had budgeted $1-million to combat the Zika virus. It was also stated that more resources would be supplied as needed.
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This was not well organized and rushed rushed rushed. Most people do not even know about this. I was speaking to a nurse who said they didn’t know about no clean up….sounds like the health teams not prepared for that so how is this a health department project. Stupes
Thursday is constituency day…go see all parl reps there pretending to care and cleaning up posing for camera.
Pathetic.
how can we have a massive cleanup and everyones at work? wrong day
When Mr. Lennox Linton and his UWP supporters decided to clean up Roseau last year, Skeritt and his DLP supporters ridiculed them. Skeritt did not give support to the actions. However, on Thursday, he will need the UWP support. Knowing Mr. Linton, I am positively sure he will encourage his supporters to support the Government in its clean up campaign. Skeritt can rant and rage about Linton as much as he wants, he can call him all the traitor there is, he can call him a vagabond, he can call him a bully, but when his backside is in trouble, he always runs to Linton. Remember post Erika. Linton has always proved to be a better leader then he is. Linton is always one step ahead of him.
you’ll need more than a day to cleanup Zika. how about eradicate Zika month!
Does this mean all the old trucks and cars on the sides of the roads
will be picked up, as water accumulates in them, we talk about beautifing Dominoca, it truly digusting, no wonder Dominica rated so low in the cruise ship report.
They should be picked up and discarded in a safe place where they will not be able to collect water and breed mosquitoes.
That’s a good idea, seems we were drifting away from our “Nature Island” concept, but cleanup must be done on a regular basis. Our daily motto should be ” Keep Dominica Clean Everyday”
It’s a long time the people of Portsmouth have been complaining about the mosquitos yet nothing is being said about the mess in Portsmouth. Is that Minister serious?
You now have the opportunity to address it directly to him and request that the area be cleaned up.
What does the Minister have to do with people cleaning up their community? the Minister has to come and clean for allu too??? LIKE SERIOUSLY u are making this statement! Get yall lazy selves up and gather to clean your community…control yall mosquitoes….always depending on the government for everything!
Recycling is the key. Waste disposal should be managed on a village council level. Biodegradable material should be sent to a community biofuel generation plant for local consumption. I remember 30 years ago a Mr. Royer from giraudel who used animal waste to generate fuel. Why one of these have not been set up in every community is besides me. 1) it creates employment 2) responsible management of waste 3) it is in line with green energy 4) use of science and technology. The fuel could be collected and compressed and used for cooking and other applications.
Clean up where.them young man that has know work to feed their family give them work to do let them clean up the place and pay them YES AND PAY THEM TO WORK
So HOW will the micro management of it be done?????
I IN THAT!
Zika or no Zika, when comes to littering indiscriminately Dominicans are No. 1. You think a little mosquito is going to change people’s dirty behavior? It’s either you’re clean or you’re not.
When they get stung, it makes them hop and get sick, they may pay heed. Too late probably? However, as a saying: “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you’ve never been a mosquito.
I am the Board of Director’s President of a US environmental education foundation. I believe Dominica could establish an annual river clean-up like one we have on the Potomac River that flows through Washington, DC. Here’s a link to the website: http://fergusonfoundation.org/trash-free-potomac-watershed-initiative Each year we organize 10,000 volunteers to collect literally hundreds of tons of trash in and around the waterways. I been to Dominica 10 times in the last 15 years staying in Paix Bouche but visiting many, many villages and natural wonders and meeting beautiful people. I was part of the James Madison University alumni group but then came back several times on my own. I love everything about my second home and, mosquitos or not, truly want to see the Nature Island live up to its name.
Pleased to know you visit D/ca and love the country. May your visits always be enjoyable.
The bigger the country and population, the more littering.
Canada (Toronto) is one of the cleanest countries. Although some people will still litter, nevertheless it appears clean.
The Municipal Government placed some new garbage containers on streets. Most people use them. I even noticed some new newspaper stands which have glass doors. They look neat.
Garbage collection is adhered to on specified days/time. Those who own homes must put out their garbage, the night before or early morning prior to the pick-up; not before. This is the law which is stringent.
I have heard that Americans who visit Toronto marvel at Toronto’s cleanliness. They love visiting here also for shows and shopping.
Once a year the Mayor organizes a clean-up campaign with volunteers.
We must keep our environment clean to avoid viruses and diseases.
We know: “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
I do hope this will continue year round bc Dominican are noted for throwing garbage and all other waste all over the place. That’s a really big problem. Also I hope the garbage stuck come 3 to 4 times a week. God is really looking over Dominica, Am surprise there are not more sickness in Dominica.From what I see on my visit to Dominica the people really play around with garbage. Please take care of lovely Dominica.
Recently a minister spoke about littering, as posted on DNO. I wonder what has been done since.
If caught they should be charged.
Hope that involves all derilict Vehicles, especially in Roseau. This is so unsightly and the authoritities are all blindfolded. I am in for the clean up – but will be at work. I thought the clean-up was on Saturday, when more people can be involved.
Will that be a public holiday? if not how do we do that when we always leave our homes very early in the morning and to return late in the evening. Please clarify.
Put your garbage out on Wednesday night..
Dominicans and migrants that are living in dominica should know better ,do not throw rubbish or litter in the wild ,this can become a serious problem and create health issues…
De Tourism minister only playing Santa Claus, he don’t want to set de example by getting his hands dirty!
ppl should clean just because zika gonna hit d.a ?? lol
so people should keep dominica clean just because a zika gonna hit d.a???? lol what about b4 we heard of zika????
Before we heard of Zika there were no Mosquitoes in Dominica.