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Health surveillance for Carifesta challenged by roadside vending
– Ramsammy
With a boosted surveillance programme effected by the Ministry of Health for Carifesta X, there has so far been no alarming detection of any outbreaks of infectious diseases within the boundaries of Guyana.
However, the Ministry’s efforts may to some extent be challenged by a growing feature, the presence of roadside vendors.
At least this is according to Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, during an interview with this newspaper yesterday.
The Minister pointed out that the fact that there have been no major diarrhoeal or other illnesses related to infectious diseases four days into the grand event is a very good sign.
He is optimistic that the current state of affairs will continue throughout the event and even beyond.
The Minister disclosed that the Ministry at the moment has adequate personnel at all of the Carifesta venues who are capable of ensuring that proper hygiene and sanitation are in place.
Further, he noted that those manning the various health facilities have not been overwhelmed with cases.
Currently, day-to-day surveillance is ongoing at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, the New Amsterdam Hospital and the Suddie, Linden, and West Demerara Regional Hospitals.
Several private hospitals such as the St Joseph Mercy and Davis Memorial are also supporting the venture.
Officials at the facilities have been tasked with monitoring symptoms such as those that are common to flu, vomiting, fevers with rashes, bleeding, gastroenteritis and other infectious diseases indicators.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud had said that the daily reports of the medical situation will help to ensure that speedy action is taken so as to ensure that any outbreak is contained since they will be tested efficiently at the National Public Health Institute.
Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy
At the moment, the Institute has the capacity to test water, food particulars and some other materials.
But while the Ministry’s daily surveillance has proven to be a reliable monitoring method, Minister Ramsammy divulged that the Ministry has been confronted with the problem of food vending outside of some venues, a situation the Ministry has no control over.
He said that persons vending within venues had to be certified, unlike those vending outside.
The Minister pointed out that unlike the Cricket World Cup mega event when it was mandatory that all persons vending in and around the Providence Stadium be certified, such a programme has not been engaged for Carifesta.
But based on the sustained surveillance process, the Minister said that it could be deduced that water and food being supplied are safe for consumption.
But even as the boosted surveillance programme is slated to continue throughout Carifesta, the Minister said that his Ministry will not be sidetracked from sustaining monitoring of its borders, adding that his Ministry is very cognizant of illnesses that have been detected in some neighbouring countries.
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