950 Vector-Control Workers Deployed to High-Risk Communities

The Government has deployed 950 vector-control workers to high-risk communities for increased fogging and other activities to reduce the mosquito population and mitigate the risks of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Speaking at a virtual press briefing, on Thursday (November 27), Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said the deployment includes 344 temporary workers, and 606 permanent workers.

“The Ministry also provided the most affected parishes with equipment and machinery to bolster the response. These include some 13 thermal foggers, eight ULV machines, 15 drums of insecticides, 70 boxes of larvicides, and also spray pumps,” he said.

Dr. Tufton noted that some 907 communities have been visited and received larvicidal treatment, which includes treatment of groundwater and container habitats.

He said 68 per cent of the areas are identified as high-risk communities, noting that 365 communities have been fogged, representing some 73 per cent of the total number of communities targeted for the period.

“The fogging efforts have been affected by ongoing rainfall and the lack of electricity in some of the areas, but as electricity is restored, it is making it easier for us to access these areas,” the Minister said, and called on residents to protect the workers.

“The vector workers are acting in your interest, in the community’s interest, in your health and safety interest, and we encourage you to please have a conversation if you feel uncertain about something. They should have their identification, so that should not be an issue, and if you don’t see it, you can ask for it, but please work with the vector workers,” Dr. Tufton pleaded.

He told the briefing that more than 3,000 drum covers have been distributed since the start of the response; 5,000 are being procured by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); and 1,500 others to be received from Food For the Poor (FFP), which has already donated some 1,000 covers.

The Ministry, Dr. Tufton said, has also distributed 1,000 mosquito repellants in affected parishes.

“So, we have targeted the areas that are most at risk and are doing very specific interventions. Some 371 boxes of aqua tablets were received from UNICEF and distributed,” he said.

The Minister reported that 6,500 chlorine residual assessments at National Water Commission (NWC) and Municipal Corporation water supply and distribution systems are at 55 per cent satisfactory levels of chlorination, and “we are working with those agencies as part of the multi-agency approach to ensure that water coming through the pipes are drinkable and clearly protecting the health of the population”.