Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM
Public education, among tactics being used to prevent gastro outbreak
In the continued quest to stave off another potential gastroenteritis outbreak in Region One, the Ministry of Health has forged strategic partnerships to facilitate a continuing public education programme. The sensitisation move, though focused mainly on proper garbage disposal and other sanitary precautions, is also one intended to ensure that other adequate environmental measures are in place.
The start of 2013 saw the Health Ministry reporting on a gastro outbreak which sickened more than 200 residents and claimed the lives of at least three children in various communities in Region One.
Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer
According to Dr. Persaud, although to date most of the efforts have been towards public education, there have been systemic developments whereby allocations were made through the regional system, together with the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), to examine the water distribution systems. “This is a work in progress…it is always very costly to refurbish and re-tool some of those systems and most of them are basically distribution facilities and not treatment facilities; so that is another stage and I think GWI is looking at that in its master plan as to how to improve water quality that goes out to the general public,” said the CMO.
However, in light of the fact that the outbreak was linked to the water situation in the Region, Dr. Persaud said that the Health Ministry will continue its focus on highlighting the importance of safe water and ensuring that the water ways are protected and that sanitary disposal of sewage and garbage is done appropriately.
But this is certainly no small task, as according to the CMO, a recent report from the Environmental Health Unit, as it relates to the situation in Region One, is that there are several new communities that are “springing up” around mining sites. The residents of these new communities, he said, have even been guilty of setting up pit latrines in areas that could in fact contaminate the existing water ways. “Because they are mining too they are actually disrupting the soil, so if previous disposal sites were in their mining zones those might contaminate water sources,” said the CMO.
According to him through the Central Board of Health, which he chairs, moves have been made to expand the efforts. “We have been working with the NDCs (Neighbourhood Democratic Council) and municipalities to designate sanitary landfill sites in each region and in each area…sometimes more than one is needed for larger regions,” Dr. Persaud observed.
In working towards putting such measures in place, he disclosed that moves have been made to collaborate with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development since significant amounts of investments are required to ensure these designated sites are maintained and managed. This also sees efforts being made to ensure that residents are aware of “how to dump and how it is covered daily…added to this there is also a need for guidelines to be in place,” said Dr. Persaud, who disclosed that “the Ministry has already established those guidelines; it is just to get them implemented.”
But achieving proper waste management region-wide is often stymied by a shortage of personnel. This, the CMO said, has resulted in several NDCs having to resort to “contracting out” the service for collection and disposal but noted that the sites will have to remain under some sort of authority so that they are not misused.
Meanwhile, Dr. Persaud said that the Ministry has been working towards ensuring the proper disposal of medical waste especially sharps, needles and other instruments. According to him, the Ministry has been working in this regard with the Pan American Health Organisation, the United States Agency for International Development along with Government to develop the model for incinerators at most hospitals. “The few that might remain we will do them this year,” said Dr. Persaud, who noted that the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation has already put in place a hydroclave system which is already being used by both public and private facilities to sterilise contaminated waste before they are disposed.
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