In Anguilla, Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week was observed from 7 – 11 May, 2018 under the slogan “Small bite, big threat. Fight the bite, destroy mosquito breeding sites.” The Vector Control Team of the Environmental Health Unit, within the Department of Health Protection, worked in collaboration with the Health Promotion Unit to bring awareness to a cross section of residents in Anguilla. Some of the activities throughout the week were: the airing of mosquito preschool jingles on local radio stations (Radio Anguilla, Klass FM, Kool FM, Voice of Creation and New Beginning Radio); the dissemination of mosquito prevention text messages compliments FLOW; mosquito awareness and prevention lectures at primary and preschools including Morris Vanterpool Primary, Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School, Bethel Methodist Preschool and James Ronald Webster Preschool. Children were taught that they too can play an integral role in protecting themselves from mosquito bites by wearing colourful long sleeves pants and shirts at night, as dark clothes attract mosquitoes. Also, they too can share mosquito awareness messages with their parents, relatives and neighbours.
During the week, community outreach awareness programmes were also conducted outside the General Post Office and the National Commercial Bank of Anguilla, The Valley. Members of the general public were educated about the Aedes Aegypti Mosquito and the transmission of the mosquito borne diseases: Dengue, Chikungunka and Zika. Persons were reminded about what the community can do to prevent mosquito breeding and diseases – such as the elimination of breeding sites through measures such as: cover water containers, seal tombs, repair cracks and gaps in septic tanks, and screen all overflow pipes. Also, the proper disposal of domestic wastes including bottles and cans, cover bins to prevent accumulation of stagnant water, remove all unwanted bulky waste such as old washing machines and cars from their premises.
(Please Note: The Department of Health Protection offers a free bulky waste removal service. Please visit the Babrow Brothers building, 2nd floor or call 497-2631/ 729-5886 for more information). The Department of Health Protection, and the Health Promotion Unit, would like to take this opportunity to thank the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and all their local community partners, who assisted them in the accomplishment of Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week. Remember “Small bite, big threat. Fight the bite, destroy mosquito breeding sites.”
– Contributed
