With the rainy season now coming on in Anguilla, the Department of Health Protection has put into motion its 2016 Vector Awareness Programme, with the aedes aegypti mosquito being one of the main areas of focus.
October is currently Vector Awareness Month and the opening address, launching a series of activities, was delivered by the Minister of Social Development, Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers, on Monday this week.
“I must say wholeheartedly that I am proud of the effort being made by the Department to sensitize the people of Anguilla about the importance of public health and vector control,” Mr. Rogers said. “I believe that this can be challenging for the Department and its limited resources. I will ensure that the Ministry of Social Development continues to encourage the improvement, protection and maintenance of our fragile ecosystems on a sustainable basis.”
The Minister continued: “The major vector-borne diseases in the Caribbean, including Anguilla, are malaria, lymphatic filariasis, dengue fever, chickungunya, zika and leptospirosis. These vector-borne diseases have not only adversely affected the health of the people in the region, but also impeded overall socio-economic development. Simultaneously, developmental activities without adequate attention to the environment have increased the scope and scale of transmission of vector-borne diseases.”
Mr. Rogers advised the people of Anguilla do everything possible to assist the Department of Health Protection with its vector control programme, thereby safeguarding the health and safety of the island.
The opening ceremony, on the grounds of the Department of Health Protection, was attended by students and teachers at the Ronald Webster Preschool at East End.
The month of awareness activities include the following:
• Sunday, October 9: a Church Service at the Word of Life Ministries Church at Rey Hill.
• October 10-14: Broadcasting of preschool jingles.
• Monday, October 17: Primary School Poster & Theme Competition submission date.
• Tuesday, October 18: Preschool Jingle Competition at the Teachers’ Resource Centre.
• Wednesday, October 19: Stanley Mussington Poem Competition submission date.
• October 19-21: Best Kept Cemetery Competition judging period.
• Friday, October 27: Spelling B Competition at the Rodney MacArthur Auditorium commencing at 9.00 am.
Members of the public are being invited to support the above activities.
