Decline In Dengue Cases In St. James

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis, says the sustained efforts of the St. James Health Department and other agencies to eliminate mosquito breeding sites have resulted in a decline in the number of dengue cases in the parish.

“The report we got from the public health department at our last monthly meeting indicated that the number of dengue cases were down and that positive steps have been taken by the local agencies, including the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), to tackle the problem head-on,” he told JIS News.

He noted that the agencies embarked on a major drain-cleaning exercise as well as mitigation activities to curtail the breeding of mosquitoes.

He said that the process is ongoing, noting that some $8.7 million has been allocated to the Corporation, which will be distributed among the 17 parochial divisions for the continuation of mitigation works.

Mayor Davis is appealing to residents and business owners to play their part by ensuring that garbage is properly collected and disposed of, noting that some persons continue to show scant regard for best practices.

“A great part of the problem we have been having is the way in which we dispose of or how we treat our environment,” he noted.

“We, at times, get into the habit of not doing the necessary things to prevent breeding sites. As such, we have put together educational programmes to sensitise and educate our people about the things to do in the fight against dengue. Open containers are a no-no. Areas that can accommodate stagnant water are also forbidden… [The] same thing applies to overgrown lots and clogging of drains,” he said.

Mayor Davis said that as long as residents continue to work hand in hand with the local agencies, he is confident that the numbers will continue to fall in Montego Bay and the wider St. James.

“In this new year, 2020, let’s make a concerted effort to do what is right for our environment and for our communities. It’s not just dengue we have to worry about from the mosquitoes. There are other mosquito-borne diseases that we have to be careful of, so it is very important that we take time out to do what is right,” he said.