Sanitation Workers in Westmoreland Take Part in Leptospirosis Sensitisation Session

Sanitation workers of WPM Waste Management Ltd., based in Westmoreland, participated in a leptospirosis sensitisation session recently, hosted by the Health Promotion and Education Unit of the Westmoreland Public Health Department.

Health Promotion and Education Officer for the parish, Gerald Miller, told JIS News that the session was held to sensitise the workers about protecting themselves from leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by Leptospira bacteria, which can potentially lead to fatal infection of the kidney, liver, brain, lungs or heart.

Among the carriers of the virus are rodents, cattle, pigs, horses, dogs and wild animals.

“We reminded them (sanitation workers) of the importance of wearing their protective gear, and particularly their gloves, to safeguard themselves from the possibility of contracting leptospirosis,” Mr. Miller said.

He noted that the workers were very receptive of the information imparted and were appreciative of the fact that time was taken by the public health department to host the interactive session.

As part of the session, flyers containing information about leptospirosis prevention were given to the workers.

Meanwhile, Mr. Miller further outlined that there was also a sensitisation session hosted for sugar workers at the Pan Caribbean Sugar Factory in the parish.

“[The factory] facilitated the interaction. It was a good one. We spoke about leptospirosis and how they can protect themselves while they are cutting the cane,” he said.

“Some of the cane cutters [that participated] are not from Westmoreland; they are from other parishes, which was good. We didn’t get all of them [the workers], but plans are in place to go back within short order to sensitise the others that we didn’t get, so we are putting things in place for that,” Mr. Miller added.

He noted that useful reminders and tips about the illness were shared with the workers as part of the session.

The symptoms of leptospirosis range from the sudden onset of high fever, severe head and muscle aches, chills, vomiting and jaundice to abdominal pain, diarrhoea and rash. The disease, if detected quickly, can be cured using antibiotics.

Persons with these symptoms are encouraged to seek medical attention as soon as possible.