22:00:00
With
four Gulf View residents now confirmed as having contracted the Zika
virus in three months, residents are very worried about the risks to
pregnant women in the community.
But while residents renewed their call for authorities to clean clogged drains yesterday, San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein said they themselves could do more. He said they were not taking proper precautionary measures with their properties.
The Ministry of Health on Friday evening confirmed two more cases of Zika, in Tunapuna and Gulf View, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 13. The latest victims are a 26-year-old man from Gulf View and a 71-year-old woman from Tunapuna.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Hosein said the ministry’s Insect Vector Control Unit and regional corporation officials visited the area.
“We are doing our part. The problem really is to keep the place clean so that the mosquitoes cannot breed. We did pamphlets and we sent them out to each household. We went around with a mike, letting people know we are spraying, cutting open lots, cleaning drains and they have to do their part.
“They have containers in their yards which are breeding grounds, plant pots and dog bowls, they have to make sure their guttering clean. We told them we will assist. People just not heeding our advice. We must not let the mosquitoes win this war.”
Making another appeal to residents to do their part, Hosein said, “It is for their benefit. I make a special appeal to residents who have pregnant mothers living in the area to have the area cleaned. Whatever assistance the corporation could give, we will give it.”
However, community activist Viliana Ramoutarsingh countered that the measures being taken by the authorities were reactive rather than proactive. “We have been begging for assistance with regards to the drains and as yet nothing has been done to treat with the big overgrown lots and clogged drains.”
She said the area is being sprayed up to three times a week, but the mosquitoes return in a couple of days because the authorities are not focusing on the breeding grounds.
“If you know an area is affected there must be proper awareness and education drive. Send out flyers. I would not like to say that residents are totally at fault, I can tell you a lot of them are not aware where the mosquitoes are coming from.”
Noting that her main concern was the overgrown bushes and clogged drains, Ramoutarsingh said the parliamentary representative, councillor and mayor were quite aware of the situation but she was yet to see any kind of action. “We are very concerned, especially since we have a lot of young pregnant women, that is our main concern at the moment,” she added.
But while residents renewed their call for authorities to clean clogged drains yesterday, San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein said they themselves could do more. He said they were not taking proper precautionary measures with their properties.
The Ministry of Health on Friday evening confirmed two more cases of Zika, in Tunapuna and Gulf View, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 13. The latest victims are a 26-year-old man from Gulf View and a 71-year-old woman from Tunapuna.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Hosein said the ministry’s Insect Vector Control Unit and regional corporation officials visited the area.
“We are doing our part. The problem really is to keep the place clean so that the mosquitoes cannot breed. We did pamphlets and we sent them out to each household. We went around with a mike, letting people know we are spraying, cutting open lots, cleaning drains and they have to do their part.
“They have containers in their yards which are breeding grounds, plant pots and dog bowls, they have to make sure their guttering clean. We told them we will assist. People just not heeding our advice. We must not let the mosquitoes win this war.”
Making another appeal to residents to do their part, Hosein said, “It is for their benefit. I make a special appeal to residents who have pregnant mothers living in the area to have the area cleaned. Whatever assistance the corporation could give, we will give it.”
However, community activist Viliana Ramoutarsingh countered that the measures being taken by the authorities were reactive rather than proactive. “We have been begging for assistance with regards to the drains and as yet nothing has been done to treat with the big overgrown lots and clogged drains.”
She said the area is being sprayed up to three times a week, but the mosquitoes return in a couple of days because the authorities are not focusing on the breeding grounds.
“If you know an area is affected there must be proper awareness and education drive. Send out flyers. I would not like to say that residents are totally at fault, I can tell you a lot of them are not aware where the mosquitoes are coming from.”
Noting that her main concern was the overgrown bushes and clogged drains, Ramoutarsingh said the parliamentary representative, councillor and mayor were quite aware of the situation but she was yet to see any kind of action. “We are very concerned, especially since we have a lot of young pregnant women, that is our main concern at the moment,” she added.
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