Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Health Minister concerned about malaria situation

Mar 22, 2010 News

Attempts by the Ministry of Health to reduce the incidence of malaria to under 10,000 cases this year have already reached a snag.

And this, according to Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, is evident by the number of cases for the first quarter of this year. The figure has so far reached close to 3,000.

“I met my technical staff today (Saturday) and expressed my great concern about the malaria situation. Even though the staff of the Malaria Department of the Ministry of Health and the health workers in the Regions must be congratulated on maintaining the level of malaria, incidences in 2009 remain at the same level as 2008, at just over 11,000 cases. This was not the target. We had intended to drop the level to below 10,000 in 2009.”

According to the Minister, the situation is amplified by the proliferation of mining camps in Regions One and Nine. He added that there is the continuing proliferation in Regions Seven and Eight. This state of affairs, he said, is creating a challenging situation for health workers.

He said that the Ministry is currently appealing to all stakeholders, “to co-operate with us so that we can continue to reduce the incidence of malaria in Guyana. In this respect, we are appealing again to all persons to desist from procuring medicines that are not within the malaria guidelines,” the Minister added.

He reminded that treatment for malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum is restricted to fixed dose artemesinin-based medicines. However, Guyana at present uses Coartem as the fixed dose artemesinin-based medicine within its malaria treatment guideline, a medication which is available to all at health centres and hospitals.

However, the most worrying part of the situation, according to Minister Ramsammy, is in the hinterland where virtually greater than 50 percent of the camps have no nets. However, he asserted that the Ministry of Health has distributed more than 80,000 impregnated mosquito nets in the hinterland. Yet few camps now have nets and many homes are lacking of nets, he added.

“We will this year begin another round of net distribution. But we must caution persons that these nets cost us about US$10 per net and we cannot keep replacing them every few months.

I believe this is a responsibility that goes deep within our duty as a citizen to ensure we take every precaution possible to prevent the spread of malaria.”

Nonetheless, he related that, “We will this year distribute another 30,000 mosquito long lasting impregnated bed nets to Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.”

And while efforts will continue in the quest to expand malaria services, Minister Ramsammy has pledged to increase resources (both financial and human) in the fight against the disease, even as the sector anticipates the help of every citizen living, working and visiting the hinterland Regions where malaria is endemic. Additionally, the Ministry of Health, the Minister said, will commence an exercise soon that will ensure boosted capacity to address malaria in the various regions to improve vector control activities.

Further efforts will be geared this week to render more focus to Region 10 where a number of cases have been reported of recent. According to the Minister, although the malaria incidence rate is low in Region 10, the situation often sees increasing occurrences in various parts of that region. As such, the Minister has since instructed a team from the Malaria Department to visit various communities in Region 10 to see what additional support the Ministry of Health can provide in order for the health workers there to ensure that malaria is kept under control.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | February, 3rd, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

EBDCA/D&R Construction 40-Over Cricket Competition continues

EBDCA/D&R Construction 40-Over Cricket Competition continues

Feb 06, 2025

-Jaikarran, Bookie, Daniram amongst the runs Kaieteur Sports-The East Bank Demerara Cricket Association/D&R Construction and Machinery Rental 40-Over Cricket Competition, which began on January...
Read More
GFF announces final squad for Concacaf U-17 Men’s World Cup qualifiers

GFF announces final squad for Concacaf U-17...

Feb 06, 2025

Cricket West Indies announces exciting 2025 schedule for Senior Men’s and Women’s Teams

Cricket West Indies announces exciting 2025...

Feb 06, 2025

BCA, GCB to attend CWI meeting on February 9

BCA, GCB to attend CWI meeting on February 9

Feb 05, 2025

Bolstered Harpy Eagles eyeing perfect home record as stars return to XI

Bolstered Harpy Eagles eyeing perfect home record...

Feb 05, 2025

Hockey PAHF Junior Challenge schedule released

Hockey PAHF Junior Challenge schedule released

Feb 05, 2025

Features/Columnists

  • Land, taxes and penalties

    Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-The American humorist Will Rogers once remarked that the best investment on earth is earth... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]