JA$12 million for Vector Control by Minister of Health - 50 Suspected Cases indicates Panic, not Chikungunya, is spreading

“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 25^th 2014 commenting on the Chikungunya Virus spread

Since we’ve hit 17 confirmed Chikungunya Virus cases as of Wednesday, August 20^th 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 25^th 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 24^th 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 25^th 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 1^st 2014 is coming! As the worse virus that’s spreading right now is panic!