• Category

  • Content Type

Advertisement

Health Minister Renews Call for Jamaicans to Guard Against Chikungunya

By: , July 24, 2014

The Key Point:

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has renewed his appeal for Jamaicans to take precautions against the Chikungunya virus by destroying potential mosquito breeding sites.
Health Minister Renews Call for Jamaicans to Guard Against Chikungunya
Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, addresses the opening ceremony for the Pesticides Control Authority’s (PCA) board retreat, which is being held on July 23, at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston. Listening are Chairman of the Board of the PCA, Dr. Alverston Bailey; and Senior Policy Analyst and Corporate Governance Officer, Pauline Gregory Lewis.

The Facts

  • The Health Minister was addressing a Pesticides Control Authority (PCA) board retreat at Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday, July 23.
  • Dr. Ferguson assured that the national emergency response has been fully activated, noting that the same protocol used to address Dengue, is being used for Chikungunya.

The Full Story

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has renewed his appeal for Jamaicans to take precautions against the Chikungunya virus by destroying potential breeding sites for the Aedes Egypti mosquito, which is the vector for the disease.

“It’s not just a Government response…it is a response that requires our citizens to look at water sources…(the Aedes Egypti mosquito) operates around where people gather…the home, workplace, etc. It is our citizens, who will have to play a major role in how we deal with potential breeding sites…we continue to make the appeal,” he said.

The Health Minister was addressing a Pesticides Control Authority (PCA) board retreat at Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday, July 23.

Stressing the importance of being proactive and cautious, he said that while Chikungunya is not as dangerous as Dengue, which is also transmitted by the Aedes Egypti, “in many cases, (the effects of Chikungunya) can last for months, or even years…it impacts our children and adults especially over the age of 65”.

Dr. Ferguson assured that the national emergency response has been fully activated, noting that the same protocol used to address Dengue, is being used for Chikungunya.

Jamaica recently recorded its first case of the Chikungunya virus, which has been confirmed in 26 countries.

Meanwhile, the Minister highlighted the PCA’s role in ensuring compliance and best practices in poison control. “You continue to provide strong regulatory mechanism in dealing with many of the chemicals that could be potentially harmful to our citizens and the environment,” he stated.

The Minister said the PCA’s work is also critical in reducing incidents of poisoning, through public education on the proper use and storage of pesticides.

He cited data from the Ministry’s national surveillance unit, which show that in 2012, there were 566 confirmed cases of accidental poisoning.

Although this was a decrease of six per cent over 2010, 82 per cent (463) of these cases occurred in children under five years old. Children under two years old accounted for 382 of these cases.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board of the PCA, Dr. Alverston Bailey, said the retreat provides an opportunity to reflect on the agency’s roles and responsibilities, identify areas of strength and weakness, and formulate policy to make the body more effective.

The retreat will focus on: formulating a plan to address sustainability, development, and strategic planning; initiate the process of improving the visibility of the organisation; develop awareness among members on Parliamentary procedures and general governance roles, versus management responsibilities; and determine strategies to address funding, capacity building, and improving relations with other agencies.

The PCA is responsible for: the licensing of persons to import and manufacture pesticides; registration of pesticides; authorizing persons to sell restricted pesticides; register premises in which restricted pesticides may be sold; licensing pest control operators; and consider and determine applications to deal with the importation, manufacturing, sale and use of pesticides.

Last Updated: July 24, 2014

Skip to content