RESIDENTS of Region 1 (Barima/Waini) were able to enjoy their Easter celebrations uninterrupted as there were no recorded cases of gastroenteritis during this period.
This was reported yesterday by Medex Edghilo Gill of the Port Kaituma Community Hospital in a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

According to her, there has been a significant decrease in the number of cases of gastroenteritis in the region, as there have been fewer persons visiting the hospital with the illness.
Early last month, Minister of Health,  Dr. Bheri Ramsaran reported that the ministry, along with several other agencies, were diligently following an outbreak of gastroenteritis in parts of Region 1, particularly Sebai and Canal Bank.
The number of cases recorded then stood at 250, and two teams were sent into the area to conduct studies, taking samples of the water from several wells and river sources.
These teams conducted community meetings with residents and certain supplies, such as oral dehydration salts were distributed. The residents were also educated about the use of these supplies.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, in a press conference early last month, had said that during the second week in February, they started to note increases in cases of gastroenteritis in the region, particularly in the upper part of the community.
Dr. Shamdeo pointed out that teams which visited the area were immediately able to recognise that this outbreak was due to the increased turbidity of the water in the rivers.
He informed that all of the water samples, even those taken from the solar power well at Sebai, were deemed as unacceptable, since in all of the instances there was contamination of the water, specifically from human waste.
He had stated that the sanitary conditions in the community were also assessed, and together with the environmental unit from the ministry and the regional environmental health officials, they assessed the state of disposal of garbage.
Dr. Persaud indicated that pit latrines were found to be in close proximity to the rivers, and this is very insanitary, and contributes to persons being affected by the illness, for which the symptoms include diarroeha and dehydration.