APA calls for more testing in Indigenous villages

COVID-19 pandemic

…says border communities should be under watch

Executive Director of the Amerindian Peoples’ Association, Jean La Rose on Monday called for testing to be amplified in the Indigenous communities, as the cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in areas which remain highly vulnerable.

After a peak in cases in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) earlier this year, there was a proliferation of cases in the Moruca sub-district in Region One (Barima-Waini).
Already in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), the situation is spiralling out of control and these three regions have now emerged as hotspots for the novel coronavirus.
While pointing to the trend of insufficient testing in Region One, she called for attention to be paid to the rise in cases in other hinterland regions, specifically those bordering Brazil.
“There is need for testing…In the early days in Region One at the Moruca sub-region, testing was only done on a very small scale and we feel as though the number of testing should increase greatly in those communities, especially those that have been affected. Attention must be made to information coming out of those communities. Attention must be paid to people who know those communities, that Itabac and Kanapang lies on the border of Brazil and know that there is interaction between those communities and so forth,” the APA Executive cautioned.
La Rose mentioned that some communities are still unaware of the implications brought on by COVID-19 and as such, awareness is needed to have them on board. The political situation has also created a negative imprint in the way people view the issue. The APA has been sensitising villagers through their initiatives but more is needed.
She said the National COVID-19 Task Force should seek assistance from persons on the ground to better manage the situation and moreover, prevent it from escalating further.
“I want to stress the need for awareness in the communities. You have people who are still doubting if COVID-19 exists, that it has health implications as we have been hearing all along. Then we have the whole political scenario, where that has been infiltrated into the COVID issue and make people disbelieve us or people just not wanting to feel that it should be dealt with.”
She said, “Relying on human resources that have the experience and knowledge is what the Task Force can do. There is need for support of the health authorities. I can’t overstress the need in terms of PPEs, sanitisation, beds, quarantine facilities, increased human resources.”
The APA has been amplifying their efforts to assist Indigenous communities by providing supplies to hundreds of families across the country. However, the health and agricultural systems are in need of assistance and local economies have been seriously impacted.
Health centres facing supply shortages were restocked through their donations, and households across the villages were given hampers to sustain their families.
In Region Nine, COVID-19 cases increased by 19 on Monday.