NDCs, citizens urged to help alleviate mosquito infestation

Director of Regional Health Services in Berbice, Jevaughn Stephens, is calling on Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to play their part in alleviating the mosquito infestation across the country.

The insect is common in Regions Six and Five, particularly before the rainy season.  Stephens explained to the Department of Public Information (DPI) that though environmental health officers were equipped with the necessary skills to reduce the occurrence of this vector, NDCs must ensure that certain practices and behaviours were maintained to alleviate the infestation.
“We have met with NDCs and asked them to assist us to ensure that within their NDCs there are no clogged drains, there is a reduction of overgrown bushes where mosquitoes mostly breed, properly covered drums, and properly disposal of solid waste,” Stephens underscored.
In most instances, when these measures are not maintained, the department is forced to use fogging as a last resort to control the mosquito population. According to Stephens, the vector control department has a staff complement of 12 officers and is equipped with three vehicles and two fogging machines. The fogging exercise is now extended to the 16 NDCs and three municipalities. “So the process takes longer than we would have anticipated, but we’re calling on the NDCs to play their part so that going forward, we can have this done differently,” Stephen reiterated.
Two weeks ago, fogging commenced in the New Amsterdam area. Stephens encouraged that citizens play their part also and practise hygienic measures such as having bins in which to store their refuse and weeding their parapets.