“I
am emphasising the need for personal responsibility (by citizens). In the
absence of personal responsibility we have the possibilities of breeding sites”
Minister of Health
Fenton Ferguson at the Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange on Monday August 25th
2014 commenting on the Chikungunya Virus spread
Since
we’ve hit 17 confirmed Chikungunya Virus cases as of Wednesday, August 20th
2014 as I’d reported in my blog article entitled
“17
Chikungunya Virus Cases in Jamaica - Rain Weekend Perfect Stormy Weather for
Aedes Aegypti Mosquito come September Back to School”, the Ministry of
Health as gone on the defensive.
He
is basically contemplating an allocation of a paltry JA$12 million to what
appears to be Vector Control of the Aedes
aegypti mosquito as stated in the article “Health
Ministry allocates J$12m to fight Chikungunya”, published Monday, August
25, 2014 12:52 PM, The Jamaica
Observer. He’s also partnering with the Ministry of Local Government, which
falls under Noel Arscott’s watch.
During
a Q&A session at the Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange on Monday August 25th
2014, Minister of Health Dr. Fenton Ferguson made known his Vector Control Plans
to the Media along with the admonishment to the public that they were
responsible for keeping their environment Mosquito free.
There
are now 50 suspected cases of Chikungunya Virus, according to Director of
Emergency Disaster Management and Special Services, Ministry of Health, Dr
Marion Bullock Ducasse, with 10 debunked by the CARPHA (Caribbean Public Health
Agency) as being false alarms. But with 40 other unconfirmed, expect the
numbers to grow by the end of the week of Sunday August 24th 2014!
Luckily
the Chikungunya Virus seems to love the following parishes the most:
1.
Kingston and St. Andrew
2.
St. Thomas
3.
St. Catherine
4.
St. Ann
Yes
folks, more reason to love Clarendon, as we’re apparently invisible to the Aedes aegypti mosquito!
JA$12 million from Ministry
of Health - Doctors shocked as Chikungunya Epidemic looms
This
shockingly small sum must have Doctors in fits of horror and shock. This as
they’ve begun to refurbish a section of either the KPH (Kingston Public
Hospital) or the UHWI (University Hospital of the West Indies) to make a 4-bed
Isolation Ward as stated in “Health
ministry moves to deal with deadly disease”, published Tuesday, August 26,
2014 BY INGRID BROWN Associate
Editor – special assignment, The
Jamaica Observer.
So
said the Minister of Health Dr. Fenton Ferguson and his posse at the at the
Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange on Monday August 25th 2014
commenting on the Chikungunya Virus spread.
After
all, there is no known cure for this disease and albeit it’s treatable, it’ll
leave patients with lifelong arthritic-like symptoms and a rash that’s not very
fashionable. Plus, the fact that it has similar symptoms to Dengue Fever is
adding to the scariness of the disease as the rainy season picks up steam as
December 2014 draws near.
Pediatrics
Clinics are most likely be still confused at this move by their Minister of
Health. The strange advice jointly issued by the Ministry of Education and the
Ministry of Health is basically saying that people are responsible for their
children to pack water, DEET and wear long sleeve clothing as noted in my blog article
entitled “Education
and Health Ministries Meet before 2014-15 Academic Year - How to Stop
Chikungunya Virus spread by Aedes aegypti Mosquito among Children”.
This
in a country that has blocked drains and culverts with stagnant water that’s
teeming with Aedes aegypti mosquito,
regular Water lockoffs that affect even the operation of the hospitals and DEET
priced more expensive than illegal Black Coil Destroyers. JA$12 million isn’t
going to do much emergency Drain Cleaning, even if the Local Government pitches
in and starts Drain Cleaning.
They’ll
also have to make DEET and Citronella Oil cheaper by removing importation
tariffs on these imported items and step on the ban on Black Coil Destroyers as
noted in my Geezam blog article entitled “How
to make Environmentally Friendly Citronella (Lemon Grass) Oil for Mosquito
Repellant Lotion and Candles”.
I’m
hoping to hear News of the outcome of the extraordinary meeting of CARICOM
(Caribbean Community) in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad being hosted by Trinidad PM
Kamla Persad-Bissessar's as reported in my blog article entitled
“Trinidad
PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar's CARICOM Meeting - Preventing Caribbean Chikungunya
Virus and Ebola Virus Epidemic by Christmas 2014”. Out of that meeting should come greater
coordinated effort to reduce the spread of both the Chikungunya Virus and Ebola
Virus.
Until
then, I’m also gearing up with Citronella Candles and DEET, as Monday September
1st 2014 is coming! As the worse virus that’s spreading right now is
panic!
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