Need for Closer Collaboration Highlighted at PCA Workshop

A workshop aimed at highlighting the need for closer collaboration among hospital administrators, public health inspectors and officers of the Pesticide Control Authority (PCA), was held in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay on Sept. 27.
Staged by the PCA as part of Pesticide Awareness Week, which was observed from September 24 to 28, the workshop was held under the theme: ‘Pesticide Registration: Assurance of Safe and Efficient use of Pesticides in Agriculture and Public Health’. A total of 21 persons, including hospital administrators from the private and public sectors in western Jamaica, public health inspectors, and personnel from the PCA, attended the workshop.
Inspector of the PCA in western Jamaica, Lee Roy Taylor, shared results of a PCA survey done at hospitals across the island, between the months of March and May this year. He said that the survey was aimed at determining the specific problems that were being experienced at those health facilities in relation to pests, pest control and pesticide use, and to craft some recommendations for these facilities. The survey, he said, was done in both public and private facilities.
Mr. Taylor said the results of the survey varied from institution to institution, with different levels of pest infestation stemming from various causes, varying methods of dealing with the problem, and both proper and improper pesticide use.
He pointed out that recommendations coming out of the survey included, sensitization of hospital staff in the Ministry of Health; that all pest control operators hired by these health institutions must be certified and licensed by the PCA; that the regional Health Authorities should have pest control services as a item within their budgets; that every effort should be made to remove derelict buildings from the compound of health facilities, as these harbour pests; and that hospitals should not purchase pesticides not registered by the PCA.
Chairman of the PCA and President of the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ), Dr. Alverston Bailey, in addressing the workshop, said the Association was very happy that the survey was done, and is anticipating that the recommendations would result in significant improvement in the environment of the institutions.
Speaking in his capacity as PCA Chairman, he said the organization was very proud of its accomplishments over the past 15 years, especially in the area of pesticide regulation, aimed at protecting the environment and the people of the country. He said that despite limited resources, the PCA had all the programmes that could be found in a developed country.