Illness plus fish, bird deaths spark concern in Upper Mazaruni

Nov 05, 2011 News

– Specialist team heads to area

A specialist medical team is heading into the Upper Mazaruni today after a number of residents of a remote Amerindian community began turning up at the health centre complaining of vomiting and diarrhea.
The problems started two weeks after residents of the village of Chinowieng first noticed dead fish in the Haieka River. In addition, they have noted dead birds which are thought to prey on fishes in the river.
Reports indicate that the Akawaio Amerindians in the small village have been urged to stop using the river, the very river they depend on for water.

Dr Ashok Sookdeo

Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, confirmed that his Ministry had received the reports about the sicknesses but only an investigation would reveal the nature and seriousness of those illnesses.
Today, the Director of Environmental Health Services Dr Ashok Sookdeo is leading the investigation team. The team would include a doctor, a medex, an epidemiologist, and an expert from the National Public Health Reference Laboratory.
Sookdeo told Kaieteur News that the team would have to spend about five days investigating the problem.
Residents of the village first raised the issue via radio with the Vice Chairman of Region Seven, Amrita Thomas, who is based at Kamarang.
The information was relayed on to the Regional Office in Bartica. However, Regional Executive Officer Peter Ramotar told Kaieteur News that the regional administration did not have the requisite expertise to deal with the problem.
As a result, he said the matter was referred to the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.
A local non-governmental organisation said that it has informed the Environmental Protection Agency of the problem.