AN emergency medical team, including two members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Medical Corps and nine medical personnel from the Ministry of Health, was deployed early yesterday morning to Waramadong, Region 7, after a reported malaria outbreak. The team carried out mass smears to determine how many are infected with the disease caused by the anopheles mosquito.
When contacted for a comment, Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran said that the team will be remaining in the community to conduct further assessments.
The Ministry of Health was alerted on Wednesday evening of the outbreak, in which 18 students living at the Government School dormitory at Waramadong were tested positive. The tests were done by members of the Regional Vector Control Unit.
The ministry promptly mobilised a team and sought the assistance of the GDF which made available its Skyvan to transport the members of the emergency response team and their equipment into Kamarang Landing.
From there they travelled by boat for one-and-a- half hours upriver to Waramadong.
The team was also involved in spraying the community and sensitising residents to how they can protect themslves. They also distributed flyers on the disease.
Only last week the Region 7 health officer collected 5,000 insecticide- treated nets to distribute to residents and miners.
Region 7 is a popular mining area, and malaria is prevalent in some of these areas.
The ministry will be distributing 50,000 bed nets this year as it tackles malaria. (GINA)