Region 2 PPP/C RDC Councillors calling for fogging machines

By Indrawattie Natram

Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillors on the Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) are calling on Public Health Minister, Dr George Nort

on to provide the Region with enough fogging machines to help in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases.
At the recent statutory meeting for the month of June, Councillor Brian Basil Persaud made the request, stating that there has been an increase in mosquitoes in Charity and neighbouring areas and many persons have been reportedly suffering from Chikungunya and Dengue.
Persaud reported that currently the fogging machine in the Region was down and environmental officers cannot execute their jobs in an effective manner. Persaud said many persons were currently suffering with illnesses owing to the increase of mosquitoes in their areas. He related that fogging needed to commence and it could only be done if the Region acquired new fogging machines.
He also stated that reports coming out from the nine Amerindian communities in the Region indicated that they were also suffering from fever and skin rashes. Persaud said residents in several areas, upon reporting the increase in mosquitoes, made calls for a health team to conduct a medical outreach.
Another PPP/C Councillor Humace Odit also said that he could not see why the Region had insufficient fogging machines. He noted that residents were being affected and the issue needed to be addressed in a timely manner.
At that point, head of the RDC, Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt requested that the Chairman of the RDC Health and Sanitation Committee, Arnold Adams form a team and visit these areas in an effort to confirm whether there was indeed an outbreak. He revealed that the Essequibo Chambers of Commerce has given its commitment to provide a vehicle for the fogging to commence.
When this newspaper contacted Senior Environmental Officer Shaleena Baksh on the matter, she said fogging was stopped as the machine malfunctioned, also noting that the weather was not conducive to fogging.
Regional Health Officer Afarah Khan said there was not an outbreak of illness; however, there was an increase of mosquitoes in villages based on the number of persons visiting the hospital for mosquito-related ailments.