Section General Health Care under the auspices of Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government agency under the Ministry of Public Health, has sought the help of the nation’s Community Councils in taking immediate measures to prevent the breeding of mosquitos after rain events.
Each resident in a community can prevent mosquito breeding sites by taking preventive actions in and around their environment thereby creating a mosquito free zone.
Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever, ‘Get Checked" campaign, is in line with CPS’s appeal for residents, and business owners in the districts to check-in and around their homes, and businesses in order to reduce breeding sites of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. The Minster added that Community Councils can play a key role in motivating their communities to take action.
Minister De Weever adds: "At this time we have to be very strategic in identifying the hot spots and focus our attention there. The challenges with our infrastructure also have to be addressed – this is not just a public health issue.
"We are all personally responsible for our surroundings and what we wear. One should wear long sleeve clothes to protect ourselves and follow our prevention tips and campaign that has been on-going.
"We must all be aware that fogging has an environmental impact and we have tried to minimize this as much as possible," Minister Hon. Cornelius de Weever said on Monday.
A list of preventive tips in the form of a flyer has been sent to the Councils with the request to spread the information around within their respective district and to also hold district sessions with members of the community in order to spread the information throughout the district for immediate action to be taken to prevention dengue fever.
SGHC has also offered to attend Community Council information sessions in order to disseminate as much information as possible to the residents of the district.
Dengue Fever is transmitted by the female vector Aedes Aegypti mosquito. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito is distinguished by its markings. The body of the mosquito has alternate black and white horizontal stripes. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito lays her eggs in clear (clean) stagnant water. Within eight days the mosquito can complete its life cycle from egg, to larvae to pupae and to and adult mosquito.
Based on the aforementioned it is recommended for persons to walk around their surroundings within seven days to eliminate all possible breeding sites.
Persons are recommended to keep their homes, yards, neighborhoods and work environment free from mosquito breeding sites.
Actively destroy or dispose of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that collect and hold water. Do not allow water to accumulate in the saucers of flowerpots, cemetery urns or in pet dishes for more than two days. Throw out the water and turn them over every time it collects water.
Clean debris from rain gutters and remove any standing water under or around structures, or on flat roofs. Check around faucets and air conditioner units and repair leaks or eliminate puddles that remain for several days.
Change the water in birdbaths and wading pools at least once a week. The treatment of ornamental pools should be discussed with the experts. Fill or drain puddles, ditches and swampy areas, and/or remove, drain or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar and regularly treat and monitor.
Eliminate seepage from cisterns, cesspools, and septic tanks. Eliminate standing water around animal watering troughs. Flush livestock water troughs twice a week.
Check for trapped water in plastic or canvas tarps used to cover boats, pools, plastic bags, foam dishes or even plastic cups strewn on the road side.
Clean the dead leaves from banana and coconut trees. Adult mosquitoes prefer to rest on weeds and other vegetation. Homeowners can reduce the number of areas where adult mosquitoes prefer to rest on weeds and other vegetation.
Homeowners can reduce the number of areas where adult mosquitoes can find shelter by cutting down weeds adjacent to the house foundation and in their yards, and mowing the lawn regularly.
Check around construction sites or do-it-yourself improvements to ensure that proper backfilling and grading is realized to prevent drainage problems which can be a source for standing water.
Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days. If ditches do not flow and contain stagnant water for one week or longer, they can produce large numbers of mosquitoes. Report such conditions to the respective government agency.
Mosquitoes can be kept out of the home by keeping windows, doors and porches tightly screened (16-18 mesh). Those insects that do get into structures can be eliminated with a fly swatter or an aerosol space spray containing synergized pyrethrum.
Adult mosquitoes prefer to rest on weeds and other vegetation. Homeowners can reduce the number of areas where adult mosquitoes can find shelter by cutting down weeds adjacent to the house foundation and in their yards, and mowing the lawn regularly. To further reduce adult mosquitoes harboring in vegetation, insecticides may be applied to the lower limbs of shade trees, shrubs and other vegetation.
The aforementioned measures should also be taken in and around the workplace, social gatherings and living quarters to eliminate mosquito breeding sources.
An increase in the mosquito population puts residents at risk. For information about dengue fever prevention measures, you can call CPS at 542-2078 or 542-3003.