Private sector, PAHO support ECHO medical outreach

Feb 12, 2011 News

More than 50 persons from communities within the vicinity of the now closed Le Repentir landfill site have received medical attention through the efforts of the Environmental Community Health Organisation (ECHO). ECHO with the voluntary service of Dr Haydock Wilson and Dr Bizuayehu Jeffery have since last week been rendering much needed medical assistance to the residents.
Some members of the private sector have since collaborated with ECHO. In addition to the Pan American Health Organisaton support has been forthcoming from John Fernandes Ltd, Humphrey Bakery, Ali Supermarket, vendors of the Bourda Market, Nigel’s Supermarket, Bounty Supermarket, Roy’s Pharmacy and International Pharmaceutical Agency.
According to a statement issued by the Non-Governmental Organisation, ECHO will continue to provide appropriate medical assistance to residents for at least another few weeks. The statement revealed that a number of those, who visited the health camp complained about eyes and nose irritation, rashes on the skin and respiratory conditions.
And although it is difficult to establish any link between reported illnesses and the operations at the site, the statement underscored that ECHO believes that there are extant psychological biases, which must be addressed.
And in order to ascertain any correlation ECHO has plans to carry out a series of investigations.
According to the statement the ongoing medical service being offered is being labeled as the first phase of the project. The second phase it noted will involve the careful study and analysis of data collected during the next few weeks.
The findings would assist ECHO in determining additional needs for the residents, in those areas. In the third phase, it is expected that ECHO will encourage public participation, in the care and management of the natural environment of the involved communities. A major aspect of this phase is the development of community development groups.
“ECHO is of the view that all citizens should have a say in the way their communities are managed. They should be involved in the decision making process at the local level.”
“Therefore, the objective of the community groups is to empower residents to take action aimed at the general development of their communities.”
Residents of the surrounding areas began accessing medical service through ECHO last week and according to ECHO Communications Director, Shellon Simon, ECHO had some time ago indicated its interest in helping persons affected by fumes emanating from the dumpsite.
Persons within the vicinity of the dumpsite as well as those from neighbouring environments were seen as the most in need of medical assistance, Simon said.
As a result, she disclosed, that a decision was taken to reach out to the residents to render needful medical service with the assistance of some Non-Governmental Organisations.
“We know that we cannot eliminate the problem entirely but we are just providing somewhat of a solution to those who feel they need medical assistance in one way or another for conditions that could have resulted from prolonged exposure to the dumpsite,” Simon told this newspaper.
And according to her children and senior citizens have been identified as the most vulnerable to possible health problems, thus they are being given priority attention.
The recipients of medical attention were screened the week prior to the offering of the service by Staff Nurse Marilyn Isaacs who has been volunteering her service to ECHO.

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Private sector, PAHO support ECHO medical outreach

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