NCSC Educating Members About Chikungunya

The National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) is now working with the Ministry of Health to execute a series of public awareness sessions that will inform its members on the chikungunya disease.

With the Health Ministry reporting its second case of the virus in the country, the NCSC says it is necessary to educate seniors who fall within the most vulnerable groups to contract the illness.

In an interview with JIS News, Programme Organizer for Health at the NCSC, Cassandra Morrison, said the NCSC is being engaged by the Ministry as part of its emergency dissemination to get the message out to seniors across the island.

“The Ministry of Health will be conducting training sessions where older persons will become trainers of others, so that information about the disease will be widespread. We are also educating them at our club meeting and other events and where we know older persons congregate,” she informed.

In a release issued on Monday, July 28, by the Ministry of Health, Director of Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry, Dr. Marion Bullock Ducasse, warned that the risk of being infected is increased if an individual has diabetes and cardiovascular disease, both of which are often affiliated with the elderly.

For more details on the chikungunya disease, senior citizens are being asked to contact the NCSC at 906-9277/8 or visit their health care provider if they suspect that they may have the disease.