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No major outbreak of water borne diseases this year

Feb 17, 2012 News

 

Unlike the 2005 floods, Guyana has no reports of any serious water borne diseases that might have been caused by the current flood.
This was according to Dr.  Narine Singh, Director of Regional Health Services, who noted that preparations for the prevention for an outbreak of any kind were made prior to the floods, so as to not have the 2005 catastrophe repeat itself.
Singh added that the Ministry of Health surveillance unit and the Regional Health Service Department, have been monitoring on a daily basis, reports from the various sites in the flooded regions (two, three, four, five and six) on flood-related illness.
This surveillance, he said, has been an ongoing process, which is normally done on a weekly basis, but with the recent floods, it has been stepped up to daily monitoring.
Analysis of those monitoring reports so far from the various sites, indicated that there has not been any increase in water borne disturbances in flooded areas. However, there has been some increase in reported cases of colds and influenza-like symptoms at several health centers along the Coast.
Medical outreaches will continue in areas such as Mahaica Creek, Mahaicony Creek and the Abary Creek until the water subsides.
Singh related that the MOH has been ensuring that all the Regions have adequate medical supplies on hand to deal with any outbreak that can occur in the event of floods.
“The central drug bond always has “flood kits” in stock, packed and ready for dispatch in case of any emergency. Flood kits comprised of a standard set of medical supplies to cater for flood related illnesses,” Singh said.
In addition to ensuring that there were adequate medical supplies, the Regional Health Officers were all alerted in early January to prepare for the anticipated rainy season and to ensure that their surveillance systems were active.
The Ministry of Health, through its public awareness efforts, continues to counsel persons on precautionary measures that they can take to protect themselves. These include making sure that the water is safe enough for drinking, hand washing and protection of food supplies.
This is also being done through the media and the distribution of information flyers to residents.
Doctor Singh told Kaieteur News that the 2005 flood was a learning experience for the Ministry of Health and that they will be working continuously in ensuring that citizens don’t go back to such an event.
“Because of the experience from the 2005 floods and the measures that have been adopted, we were able to avoid any mayor water borne outbreak,” Singh added.

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