Chikungunya virus outbreak…Health Minister must lead from the front – insists APNU MP
The efficacy of fogging exercises being undertaken by the Ministry of Health to tackle the Chikungunya virus is
Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran
being called into question by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Ernest Elliott. Elliott, during the past week, convened a community meeting in Canje, Berbice, Region Six, where the virus was first detected over a month ago. During his visit there, Elliott said that community members expressed great concerns about the mosquito borne virus. They even shared their belief that Ministry officials have not been highlighting the real state of affairs regarding the outbreak. “The people are saying that the numbers are more than what the Minister is giving,” said Elliott, as he disclosed that reports out of the Region suggest that the ongoing fogging activities are forcing the virus carrying mosquitoes to migrate. “We are getting reports that since they started the fogging the mosquitoes have gone over to New Amsterdam and spreading…They are not killing the mosquitoes.” The Member of Parliament is calling on Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, to travel to Berbice to better understand the situation before be seeks to pronounce on its progression. “The Minister needs to stop sitting down in his office; he has to come on the scene and see what’s happening for himself…he has to visit places like Canje and New Amsterdam,” added Elliott. While in Berbice, Elliott recalled seeing several persons inflicted with the virus. Some of them are suffering from intense joint pains. “When I left Berbice there was one lady who was barely able to walk properly because of her pains,” recounted the Member of Parliament. He related another woman’s story of the disease on her household. It started with her daughter, then herself, before her husband too developed the virus. They were all eventually diagnosed with the virus. “She said she carried her daughter to the doctor with symptoms of the virus and by the time she returned home she too had to be taken to the doctor, and by that time her husband was on his way to get medical attention…it is a really worrying situation,” said Elliott. “People are afraid, and they are convinced they are not getting the truth from the Ministry…it is very difficult and people are very skeptical about the information they are getting.”
Member of Parliament, Ernest Elliott
Elliott is of the belief that the people in Canje are at a disadvantage since they are not always afforded treatment for their symptoms. According to him, residents said that a doctor at the Goed Bananen Land clinic is only on duty there on Mondays leaving patients to travel to other facilities to access needful attention. “I am saying that the Minister should and must visit; be on the ground with the people and give needful information to the people…he has to be forthcoming about this situation,” insisted Elliott. APNU members during the past week were engaged in an outreach to the Ancient County to discuss a number of issues including the need for the holding of Local Government Elections when the subject of the Chikungunya virus was raised by residents. Elliott was designated to meet with residents of Canje. The Chikungunya virus is transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which also transmits dengue fever. According to reports out of the Health Ministry, as at last week, there were a total of 31 confirmed cases of the virus. Following the detection of the first cases in Region Six, the Health Minister had told this publication that efforts were being made to contain the virus to that section of the country. However, he disclosed last week that the virus has since been confirmed in Regions Three, Four and Five. The cases of the virus were confirmed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad since Guyana does not have trained personnel to utilise the testing equipment available at the local National Public Health Reference Laboratory. The symptoms of the virus include headache, joint and muscle pains, high fever, nausea and rash. There is no cure for the virus but the symptoms are treatable though some may be long lasting, such as the joint pains, with death rarely occurring. The Ministry is urging the public to take precautions by keeping their environment clean and free of water that can allow the breeding of mosquitoes and protect themselves by using insect repellent as far as possible and/or wear long clothing.