| (From the Desk of the Vector Control Services Director, Dr. Reyaud Rahman)Although some sections of the country might be impassable, it certainly isn’t reason enough for the Vector Control Services Unit of the Ministry of Health to sit on the sidelines. In fact officers of the Unit are at times forced to leave the comfort of the coastland and travel to some interior locations to tackle disease-carrying vectors that are endemic there. Such missions are intended to ensure that the gains made over time are not lost.Dr. Reyaud RahmanAnd this is necessary because the Vector Control Services Unit is tasked with preventing and during the past year,Wholesale China Jerseys, we were able to step up our activities and complete a mammoth amount of work.In 2014 we were confronted with the Chikungunya Virus and complaints from persons with Dengue fever also arose. We also had to ensure that our Malaria control programme was on track and malaria control activities were not neglected or overlooked as this is our most serious vector borne disease in Guyana.Because of our efforts we have made significant gains and our goal is to decrease vector borne disease even more. We have malaria on the back foot as we have not seen cases as low as they are now for a number of years.Persons that are affected are telling us that we are doing a good job but we are not satisfied with this or the gains and impact we have made. We would like to see malaria drop under 1,000 cases in the next five years. But achieving this goal is a rather ambitious one in light of the fact that the cases of malaria recorded by the Health Ministry two years ago were over 30,000. The number of cases are currently about half of that alarming amount, suggesting that we are doing something right.However, the Health Ministry cannot by any means take it for granted that it is where it wants to be in terms of its vector control fight. Moreover, this year will see us being bold and ensuring that our good work is not undone. We will therefore need to continue to push forward harder to ensure pressure is maintained on the vector borne diseases.As part of our efforts to sustain the gains we have ongoing plans to put in place community groups across the country. This tactic is a strategic move whereby members of the public give needful support to aid the ongoing efforts of the Ministry.This process is one that encourages residents to take care of their own surroundings in a sustained manner, a measure that has been known to ward off even the Chikungunya virus.An outbreak of the Chikungunya Virus, which saw hundreds being infected, was for the first time detected in these parts last year.This saw us engaging a number of activities to combat the threat. However,Cheap Jerseys China, we were able to control this situation because we were proactive in tackling the disease as measures were in place to combat it even before the first case was recorded. These measures ranged from fogging to public sensitisations efforts.But we did not for one moment let its guard down on the other vector borne challenges such as malaria. This therefore meant that the Ministry was able to sustain its distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) to combat malaria in the malarious Regions of One, Seven, Eight and Nine.Persons are afforded these crucial nets as well as treatment to safeguard their health at absolutely no cost to them. And we intend to intensify such efforts.We will continue to strengthen the regional health care system as well as the regional staff by ensuring that the highest quality medication is always in stock and available and we will continuing training of staffers by the Training Unit of the Vector Control Services to ensure that there is one standard throughout Guyana.We believe that we can make an even more significant impact this year by continuing our activities and adding a few other innovative and trusted methods used worldwide which have proven to be very effective.And it is not necessary for us to create the wheel to manage, control and decrease vector borne diseases (Malaria, Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, Filariasis,Wholesale Jerseys China, Chagas disease, Leishmaniasis) as activities, materials and tools for control and elimination are proven and effective which are approved by the World Health Organization and endorsed by the Pan American Health Organization. With hard work and focus we will realize our goals of decreasing vector borne diseases and mainly malaria further in 2015.As we work towards our ambitious goal this year we appeal to the public, especially those directly affected (miners, loggers,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, persons working in malaria infested areas,Cheap NFL Jerseys, persons affected by Chikungunya virus or Dengue fever, etc,Wholesale Jerseys Authentic,) to cooperate with the Ministry in whatever way possible.Drink ALL your tablets when it is prescribed to you; sleep under your long lasting insecticidal net; keep your surroundings clean and tidy. By doing these activities and having this attitude you will be contributing positively to ensuring that your family, friends and yourself remain in good health. |
