DIRECTOR of the Vector Control Service Unit in the  Ministry of Health, Dr. Reyaud Rahaman, has said it is not true that, last Tuesday evening, seven children, under the age of 10 years, were diagnosed with malaria in Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) and had to be rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) for emergency medical attention.

He said if that was the case, an emergency team would have been dispatched to the region to check and an official report released to the media.
Rahaman pointed out that, just last month, a team was in Region 7 assessing the malaria situation and doing a vast number of smears.
He said they visited Imbaimadai, Chineoweng, Wax Creek, Jawalla, Phillipi, Fort Knox, Quebanong, Kambaru, Kako, Emokeng, Ominak, Amokokapai, Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni Dredge Camps, Pepper Camp, Meyume Bay, Courba, Hill Top, Paurima and Waramadong.
The doctor said, in those areas, two types of the viral disease were found, the Peafmodium Falciparum (PF) and Peafmodium Vivax (PV).
In Fort Knox, 25 smears were taken and out of that number, three PF and one PV were found and treated.
At Kamarang, of 168 smears, one PF patient was diagnosed, given treatment, drugs were resupplied and one microscope was left at the health centre in that village.
Meanwhile, in the village of Jawalla, where 702 smears were conducted, 18 PF and 13 PV were identified and treated and drugs and a microscope were issued.