– no medical threats reported
The Administration has responded in a timely manner to render assistance to residents in Region nine who are currently affected by floods brought on by severe rainfall over the past few days. In this regard, Lethem and surrounding areas are being monitored for the possible development of health threats, of which none has yet been reported. Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, in an interview on Sunday with the Government Information Agency (GINA), stated that the villages in the Rupununi are submerged with the flood water not only affecting farm lands, but homes and places of employment as well.
Closer to Lethem, the administrative centre, communities such as Kumu, Moca Moca and St. Ignatius are experiencing considerable flooding. This has caused the Administration to be wary of the possibility of flood related illnesses, Dr. Ramsaran posited.
He noted that at present there are 11 patients at the Lethem hospital, five of which are maternity cases, two fractures, one snake bite and two malaria cases. Dr. Ramsaran stressed that special interest is being placed on the persons affected by malaria, since in some of the inundated areas there have been a reported spike in the illness, particular after the rains started.
In response, mass blood smears from the population are being collected in the affected communities to identify the malaria parasite, early. The malaria issue is being addressed aggressively with assistance from the Global Fund.
Dr. Ramsaran emphasised that while there are no flood-related illnesses identified, earlier in May the Region’s health authorities received a consignment of the regular medication and shortly after, the Regional Health Officer, Dr. Khemraj Khanhai, also took in a special consignment. As a result, there is no particular shortage of drugs, especially those used to defend against water borne diseases.
In addition, following a discussion with Dr. Khanhai on Friday last, a request was made for flood kits to be dispatched to the Region. The kits, containing medication for vomiting, dehydration, diarrhoea and other illnesses were uplifted Sunday by the CDC and taken to Region nine, Dr. Ramsaran disclosed.
Dr. Ramsaran indicated that apart from the provision of much needed medication, two medex from Georgetown were dispatched to the Lethem area yesterday. He added that the chief Medex has been placed on stand-by and depending on further requests made by the Region, he will also be dispatched to give assistance.  
In case the need arises for emergency medical help, the Remote Areas Medical System (RAMS) is currently operating in the Region.
In Region nine, there are now four doctors in the sub-regions and seven Medex who are moving throughout the Region delivering health care to the residents.
With the experiences of the 2005 flooding, the Administration has put in place a robust mechanism for early detection of any public health threats caused by natural disasters, especially flooding. Thus far, those arrangements have been successful. (GINA)