{"id":115108,"date":"2014-04-26T23:00:34","date_gmt":"2014-04-27T03:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=115108"},"modified":"2014-04-26T23:00:34","modified_gmt":"2014-04-27T03:00:34","slug":"stay-well-sparkle-enough-enough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/columns\/stay-well-sparkle-enough-enough\/","title":{"rendered":"STAY WELL & SPARKLE: Enough is Enough!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Calma
Calma Louis, Environmental Health Officer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ever wondered what Chikungunya sounds like?<\/p>\n

Over 1000 cases and counting is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Everywhere you turn, someone you know is afflicted: a friend, a relative, a neighbour \u2013 maybe even you! That is why you won\u2019t regret listening to this sound byte: a gripping call of a 78 year old lady from Kingshill<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(Click here).<\/p>\n

Petra Shillingford, host of the bi-weekly \u00a0Talking Gender DBS radio program, provided the format for her featured guest, veteran Environmental Health officer Calma Louis of St. Joseph. Responsible now for the Roseau District, Louis\u2019 15 years of experience was reflected in her intimate grasp of the biological challenges facing us. Like her name, her voice has a calming, soothing quality, yet it lit a fire under us to take the needed action.<\/p>\n

Tell if that you are noticing as well. Most people don\u2019t seek even medical attention. Few know that symptoms can last months or years with long-term effects on the heart, liver and kidney. They endure the few days of high fever and only start bawling when the joint pain becomes disabling. The undercount is therefore massive. The Dominica Social Security just last week outlined the dire toll that it is taking on the economy. The torrent of sobering news reports and announcements on the epidemic can numb us into apathy \u2013 shrugging it off in despair, \u2018Ailas\u2026sa pou feh.\u2019<\/p>\n

The radio discussion you are about to hear gives a human face to the epidemic. Yet troubling myths still abound: Are you trying to tell us the same mosquito carrying Chikungunya virus on one side of its belly and Dengue on the other? How come we don\u2019t get AIDS if the mosquito gets a blood meal from an infected person and then bites us? If Chikungunya started in Africa, are we going to get Ebola next?<\/p>\n

So moved was I by my DBS experience, I decide to follow-up by visiting the control centre in the fight against Chikungunya. Chief Environmental Officer, Anthony Scotland described the robust efforts of his team and highlighted exemplary community action especially in places like LaPlaine, Vieille Case and Penville. For the most part he feels that too many citizens rely exclusively on government and Town Council. We discussed how citizens in developed countries can be fined for not clearing snowdrifts from the public sidewalk in front their homes or businesses. Unlike our caller from Kingshill, most people here make little effort to likewise clear the drains that directly affect them.<\/p>\n

Mr. Scotland went on to lament the falling away of our koudmain culture when ordinary people spontaneously organized themselves on the local level to solve common problems. Solid Waste Management is the state corporation tasked with working together with local groups for community clean-up of derelict vehicles. That extends to \u2018white goods\u2019 such as thrown-away fridges, stoves and washing machines. More than eyesores, these big pieces of junk provide ideal breeding places for harmful vectors such as the Aedes Egypti mosquito.<\/p>\n

Mass Mobilization<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the radio program, you will hear Mrs. Louis describe the Ministry of Health\u2019s impressive initiatives with the \u201cLittle bite, Big Threat\u201d campaign. As soon as I got home to Didier Lane, I called some neighbours together.<\/p>\n

\"Goodwill
Goodwill neighbours discuss campaign against Chikungunya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We agreed we have to do something. Churches and social organizations can take it outdoors instead of assembling as usual with the same old programs. All it takes is for one committed soul to say, \u2018Why don\u2019t we?\u2019 \u2026as an act of worship, an act of service. Not every organization is going to be responsive, but imagine how impressive it will look when yours is recognized as being relevant and concerned about community well-being. You see, the solution is not high tech or wonder drug. Unlike chronic non-communicable disease like Diabetes and Hypertension, another neighbour \u2018getting the Chikungunya\u2019 dramatically increases my own risk. Clearing the neighbourhood of standing water lowers my risk in equal measure.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a worrisome topic, but as you will hear, we were neither weary, nor were we down.\u00a0 In her vintage rapid-fire fashion, the dynamic and delightful Petra Shillingford, served up the questions on everybody\u2019s minds:<\/p>\n