Residents of Westmoreland take on dengue fight

Residents of Westmoreland have been doing their part to protect their communities against a dengue outbreak, a recent outreach campaign by the Westmoreland Health Department revealed.

Health promotion and education officer for the parish, Gerald Miller, says the community engagement revealed that seniors, in particular, were actively taking personal responsibility by implementing preventive measures and sharing their practices. These include using repellents and keeping their environment clean to prevent the breeding of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which transmits the virus.

He said the latest thrust, conducted in collaboration with the environmental health team on December 15, targeted key areas such as Great George Street, Russia, and the market district.

Miller says public health teams interacted with residents and distributed flyers and pamphlets with information about dengue fever prevention and control.

“We engaged people in the banks, supermarkets, and the vendors, reminding them of the four ‘S’s of dengue prevention. We reminded them that they need to search their premises [and] destroy the breeding sites, and [of] the second ‘S’, which is self-protection … . We encourage them to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

“[Additionally], the third ‘S’, which is seek medical advice … [we] reminded them how important it is to seek medical attention. The fourth ‘S’ [stands for] support [for] the Vector Control Programme,” he outlined.

The officer reiterated that dengue fever could lead to hospitalisation, and urged residents to take precautions and avoid overwhelming hospitals with severe cases.

He assured that the department would continue to ramp up its comprehensive public education initiative, aimed at containing the virus’ transmission and preventing further spread of illness.

Carmen Powell, a resident, said she has been vigilant in safeguarding her home by practising proper garbage disposal and wearing long sleeved clothing, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most likely to be active.

“I have been removing the old tins and punching holes [in them]. When evening comes, I make sure that the [house] is closed up. I do the many things I need to do to protect myself, like wear the garments that you are supposed to wear, long sleeves in the night hours, and all of that,” she indicated.

Powell says she collates information from various sources, including media outlets and public health workers she encounters, to ensure she stays well informed about the mosquito-borne illness.

Another Westmoreland native, Kareen Moosie, who is a United States-registered nurse, shared that her medical background has served to heighten her awareness of the dangerous nature of dengue fever, especially its impact on blood platelet levels.

Moosie says she constantly encourages her family and community members to use repellent and maintain clean environments to eliminate existing and potential mosquito breeding sites.