Danielle Toppin, Coordinator for the Zika Project run by the Barbados Red Cross Society, Chairperson of the St. Michael North West District Emergency Organisation, Doriel Skinner and Environmental Health Officer in the Health Ministry, Coreen Lynch speaking to a resident on Saturday.
Members of the St. Michael North West Constituency speaking to a resident about how to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.
Some residents of the St. Michael North West Constituency have been made more aware of how to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and to how to rid their premises of rodents.
This is as a result of efforts by the St. Michael North West Constituency Council. Last Saturday this organisation teamed up with Environmental Health Officers from the Branford Taitt Polyclinic, personnel from the St. Michael North West District Emergency Organisation and the Zika Project of the Barbados Red Cross Society.
Members of the team walked through the Deacons Farm community distributing literature which provided tips of how to prevent mosquito breeding grounds and mosquito bites. It also dealt with what is leptospirosis, chikungunya and dengue fever.
Rodent bait and insect repellent were additionally distributed and individuals were educated on the correct use of both of these.
Chairperson of the St. Michael North Constituency Council, Ricky “Laker” Williams told The Barbados Advocate that the day’s activity formed part of the Council’s ongoing work. He further said that Deacons is just one of the areas to be visited. Over the coming weeks, they will be in districts such as Brandons, Goodland and Free Hill.
“It is one of the initiatives that we as a Council intend to do in the constituency. Our aim today and in the following weeks is to make sure that all of the people in the houses that we visit in the area not only get the bait, but understand how to use it and how to keep their houses free from rodents.”
While the team interacted with residents, many of them highlighted the environmental health challenges that they face. Included in what was shared was the problem with rats as well as the problem of manholes and wells not being properly covered or sealed. It was pointed out that cockroaches emerged from these unsealed wells.