– All city primary schools being targeted

THE Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, commenced its “Schools’ Environmental Health Education Campaign” in primary schools in Georgetown.

Recently, the Caribbean Public Health Agency declared a dengue outbreak in Jamaica and raised concern for other regional territories. According to the M&CC, the implementation of education progammes at the school and community levels is essential for the control of the disease. The educational programme will provide an understanding of the mechanism of infection and key behavioral changes needed to prevent dengue’s transmission.

The involvement of schools is important since the information can be taken to homes and the wider community.

The programme targets pupils between the ages of 9 and 11 years. It will educate children about the dangers of dengue fever, mode of transmission, breeding places of the mosquito, signs and symptoms and measures to alleviate transmission. The program will be done collaboratively with the Ministry of Education and Public Health Department of the Georgetown Municipality.

To date, education programmes were completed with pupils of Agricola, West Ruimveldt, Stella Maris, North Georgetown, St Margarets, St Ambrose, J.E Burnham, F.E Pollard, St Pius and Smith Memorial Primary Schools. Community groups will also be sensitized.