Mosquito Awareness Roadshow in St. Lucia
In a proactive effort to curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, Health Officials from the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs in collaboration with the Environmental Health Division, took to the streets of Vieux Fort North on Sunday, November 3, 2024 to host a Mosquito Awareness Roadshow.
The Event
The event aimed to engage the local community directly, educating residents on essential vector control measures to reduce mosquito breeding in an effort to protect public health. This event was very timely, given the ongoing health concerns related to vector-borne diseases, such as dengue fever in Saint Lucia. Back in September, the Ministry of Health officially declared a dengue fever outbreak, prompting the need to prioritize urgent and efficient response to address the upsurge of dengue cases.
Community Engagement
Environmental Health Officer Glenda Cepal-Etienne explains that in light of the rising cases, the Ministry, through its Environmental Health Division, intensified its surveillance efforts and launched widespread community awareness initiatives. “We see an increase in the mosquito population in many communities and one of the biggest challenges is getting communities involved. So we’ve taken on an initiative where we visit the different communities in an effort to educate them, remind them, so that they can take the initiative to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in their communities involved.”
Importance of Community Involvement
The Minister for Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs, Hon. Moses Jn Baptiste expressed deep appreciation for the efforts to assist residents and emphasized on the importance of bringing resources and information directly to affected communities. “We have a big problem in Saint Lucia and we are trying to warn constituents about the dangers of leaving drums uncovered and the dangers of water collection points or water collection receptacles around their homes. So I’m very happy we are here in the community of Grace, we’ve gone to Vige, Cacao, Pierrot and we’ll go throughout the constituency.”
Highlighting the importance of community involvement in combating vector-borne diseases, Dwayne Edward, Chairperson of the Vieux Fort North Disaster Committee described the initiative as both timely and highly relevant, particularly as communities work to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses. “Initiatives like these speak wonders because they treat the very problem that we are facing in this community. The problem of dengue, a lot of people suffer from it but we don’t make the most of it because we figure it’s just another flu but I happy that Ministry of Health is being proactive and the fact that they are being proactive means I will always support initiatives like that.”
Conclusion
Through active participation and education, residents are being empowered to take control of their environments which will contribute to a safer and healthier Saint Lucia. As the Ministry of Health continues their work, they urge all Saint Lucians to remain vigilant, take preventative measures, and join in the fight against mosquito-borne illnesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the purpose of the Mosquito Awareness Roadshow?
- The event aims to educate residents on essential vector control measures to reduce mosquito breeding in an effort to protect public health.
- What is the current health situation in Saint Lucia regarding mosquito-borne diseases?
- There is an ongoing health concern related to vector-borne diseases, such as dengue fever in Saint Lucia. The Ministry of Health has officially declared a dengue fever outbreak.
- What can residents do to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses?
- Residents can take preventative measures such as covering drums, and removing water collection points or receptacles around their homes.
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