Sint Maarten remains a Safe Tourism and Travel Destination
Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever made a national appeal on Sunday calling on the country to come together to eliminate mosquito breeding sites this week, and re-emphasizing that Sint Maarten remains a safe tourism and travel destination despite challenges posed by Dengue and Chikungunya.
Residents and business leaders play a key role by continually being active in taking measures to mitigate the mosquito population in eliminating mosquito breeding sites.
"Fogging is only one of the instruments used in the fight against mosquitoes. What is important is that each person and in their language understand their behavior and role in this fight. We must individually and collectively including the business sector keep our yard and business premises free of areas of standing water.
"I am making a national call to all ministers, and cleaning companies that have contracts with the Government, the district Community Councils, and the people of this country to dedicate this week to cleaning up our island and eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
"We cannot afford to let mosquitoes have a negative and financial impact on our high tourism season; therefore the business community has a role to play because it is not only the livelihood of the Government, but that of each business organization on the island who pay their taxes. Mobilize yourselves and staff and let’s make this a national effort.
"I would like to thank the airport and harbor for their efforts, and I am calling on our telecommunication companies to join the effort by sending out SMS broadcast to their customers asking them to join us in our collective responsibility as a country to protect our economic well-being," Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever’s national appeal to the nation.
Vector control activities continue to be executed by the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour which has been proactive in addressing the issue with respect to site searches (yards and gardens) for mosquito breeding sites; mosquito fogging has been carried out in all districts on the entire Dutch side of the island with a followed up second cycle also completed within the past couple of days.
Minister De Weever said that the Governments of both sides of the island are taking all measures necessary to mitigate the further increase in these mosquito-borne viral diseases.
Residents and visitors are reminded to protect themselves especially when out during dusk and dawn hours by using mosquito repellent or wear proper clothing to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
The Collective Prevention Services, an agency of the Ministry of Public Health once again calls for daily actions to eliminate mosquito by checking containers such as buckets and water tanks for larvae and eliminate the breeding source. If there aren’t any containers with water for mosquitoes to lay the larvae there won’t be any adult mosquitoes.
Dengue Fever and Chikungunya are transmitted by the female vector Aedes Aegypti mosquito. 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 adult mosquito.
An increase in the mosquito population puts all residents and businesses at risk. Call for information on the Aedes Aegypti mosquito breeding sites and respective preventive measures at 542-2078 or 542-3003 or visit the Facebook Collective Prevention Services or email us at surveillance@sintmaartengov.org
PHOTO CUTLINE: Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever (left) speaking with Dr. Karen Polson (third from left) of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) during last week Thursday’s early morning Cay Hill vector control operation. Also present was a vector control officer from the Ministry and a representative from Harrigan that is executing the fogging. DCOMM Photo