The organization donated bed nets as one part of the strategy to prevent the spread of Zika.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), on Friday, presented the Ministry of Health with a quantity of bed nets to assist with the island’s zika response.
PAHO Country Program Specialist Valerie Beach-Horne, said the bed nets, in addition to PAHO’s technical support should assist in reducing the spread of disease.
“These nets will not cover all of the people who are at risk, but I hope they will help prevent the mosquito bites that are responsible for spreading three major diseases zika, chikungunya and dengue. Part of the strategy to prevent the spread of zika is self-protection from bites. We are giving these in addition to PAHO’s technical support which includes staff training and providing materials and support to rid our country of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.”
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Merlene Fredericks thanked PAHO for the timely donation.
“This is not the first donation we have received from the Pan American Health Organization. PAHO has been instrumental in assisting us, and we still have in stock some mosquito nets from the chikungunya response which we are utilizing in our hospitals.
“This shipment will be utilized in our primary care centres, and at our antenatal clinics where we treat, manage and monitor pregnancies.”
The bed nets will be distributed among the 33 wellness centres, and the Soufriere and Dennery hospitals. Pregnant women in need of bed nets can access one free of charge from these facilities.
The presentation took place on May 13 in the Department of Environmental Health’s conference room in Bois d’Orange.
