ABOUT seven years ago I remember overhearing a conversation between a paediatrician and two parents at the Mount Hope Children’s Hospital, while waiting for my son to be placed on the ward.
The child, who I do not think could have been older than four, of said parents was being treated for dengue and this was the third time she had visited Accident and Emergency for the year with dengue.
The doctor was pissed. He asked the parents if they had been using mosquito repellent on the child. They said she doesn’t like to put it on, so no. He asked the parents whether they were using “cock set” (mosquito coils) or citronella candles to keep the mosquitos at bay. Again, they said no, she doesn’t like the smell. He asked whether they had taken his suggestion and installed a mosquito net above her bed.
And again, they said no, because their daughter didn’t like it. Exasperated, the doctor put his hands up and point blank told them if they continue to ignore his advice, she will continue to contract mosquito carried illnesses and God forbid she one day contracts severe hemorrhagic dengue.
Judging by the dense smiles on the parents’ faces, I suspect the doctor’s warnings went in one ear, sailed through their hollow craniums and our the other.
Not going to lie, I judged. Firstly, because in my house I don’t care if you don’t like something. If I have to hold you down kicking and screaming, and slather you with Odomos so you don’t end up with dengue, Chik V or Zika, it’s happening.
As a mother, I rule you, you don’t rule me.
Secondly, it baffled me as to the complete lack of responsibility these people were taking for what was clearly a problem in their household.
We are currently facing a surge of dengue and other mosquito borne illnesses. It is not an endemic to T&T, but one that is plaguing South America and the rest of Caribbean.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh assured the citizenry the Ministry of Health and the regional corporations were doing their best to deal with the onslaught of mosquitos. Vector control had begun spraying and fogging areas and drains were being cleared.
Then he asked the citizenry to do the absolute worst… take some personal responsibility and keep your property clean to prevent mosquito breeding.
Gasp!
Deyalsingh also mentioned a $3,500 fine, which I will personally admit is a tad bit excessive.
Imagine if you are an old little pensioner, hips don’t work well, you don’t have any family and, yes, things on your property have gotten a little wild. A $3,500 fine is harsh, especially when you may not have the resources to address the problem. Now this is a situation where local government needs to step up, and help, or be open to applications for assistance from those who are truly unable to do the work themselves.
Now, back to personal responsibility. The reality is the Government can only do so much. If your yard is overgrown, your drains clogged, if you have barrels, buckets, plant pots full of stagnant water, and you don’t take any steps to keep mosquitoes out of your home, you are setting yourself up and posing a danger to your community.
Yes, the government has their role to play. Spraying exercises should be done more in swampy areas, at the same time if you live in swampy area invest in some citronella and a bottle of mosquito repellent. It must be a mutual effort.
I have always said in T&T one of our biggest problems is we do not like to take personal responsibility.
There is a pervasive attitude that the government should do everything for us. But when it comes to basic preventative measures against mosquitos, that’s up to us. Vector control can spray an area 1,000 times, but you have two uncovered barrels in your backyard hosting mosquito orgies the problem will never solved.
We don’t want the government invading our personal property, but then expect them to solve problems we have created.
Year, after year, we are educated on the importance of keeping our personal surroundings under control to prevent mosquito breeding and year, after year we get vex because we have our private spaces in a mess and expect public resources to be used to rectify the issue.
So please, take the preventative measures needed to combat mosquitos. Only when your house is in order can you go after the government for their short comings.
Commentary: Personal Responsibility to Fight Dengue
ABOUT seven years ago I remember overhearing a conversation between a paediatrician and two parents at the Mount Hope Children’s Hospital, while waiting for my son to be placed on the ward.
The child, who I do not think could have been older than four, of said parents was being treated for dengue and this was the third time she had visited Accident and Emergency for the year with dengue.
The doctor was pissed. He asked the parents if they had been using mosquito repellent on the child. They said she doesn’t like to put it on, so no. He asked the parents whether they were using “cock set” (mosquito coils) or citronella candles to keep the mosquitos at bay. Again, they said no, she doesn’t like the smell. He asked whether they had taken his suggestion and installed a mosquito net above her bed.
And again, they said no, because their daughter didn’t like it. Exasperated, the doctor put his hands up and point blank told them if they continue to ignore his advice, she will continue to contract mosquito carried illnesses and God forbid she one day contracts severe hemorrhagic dengue.
Judging by the dense smiles on the parents’ faces, I suspect the doctor’s warnings went in one ear, sailed through their hollow craniums and our the other.
Not going to lie, I judged. Firstly, because in my house I don’t care if you don’t like something. If I have to hold you down kicking and screaming, and slather you with Odomos so you don’t end up with dengue, Chik V or Zika, it’s happening.
As a mother, I rule you, you don’t rule me.
Secondly, it baffled me as to the complete lack of responsibility these people were taking for what was clearly a problem in their household.
We are currently facing a surge of dengue and other mosquito borne illnesses. It is not an endemic to T&T, but one that is plaguing South America and the rest of Caribbean.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh assured the citizenry the Ministry of Health and the regional corporations were doing their best to deal with the onslaught of mosquitos. Vector control had begun spraying and fogging areas and drains were being cleared.
Then he asked the citizenry to do the absolute worst… take some personal responsibility and keep your property clean to prevent mosquito breeding.
Gasp!
Deyalsingh also mentioned a $3,500 fine, which I will personally admit is a tad bit excessive.
Imagine if you are an old little pensioner, hips don’t work well, you don’t have any family and, yes, things on your property have gotten a little wild. A $3,500 fine is harsh, especially when you may not have the resources to address the problem. Now this is a situation where local government needs to step up, and help, or be open to applications for assistance from those who are truly unable to do the work themselves.
Now, back to personal responsibility. The reality is the Government can only do so much. If your yard is overgrown, your drains clogged, if you have barrels, buckets, plant pots full of stagnant water, and you don’t take any steps to keep mosquitoes out of your home, you are setting yourself up and posing a danger to your community.
Yes, the government has their role to play. Spraying exercises should be done more in swampy areas, at the same time if you live in swampy area invest in some citronella and a bottle of mosquito repellent. It must be a mutual effort.
I have always said in T&T one of our biggest problems is we do not like to take personal responsibility.
There is a pervasive attitude that the government should do everything for us. But when it comes to basic preventative measures against mosquitos, that’s up to us. Vector control can spray an area 1,000 times, but you have two uncovered barrels in your backyard hosting mosquito orgies the problem will never solved.
We don’t want the government invading our personal property, but then expect them to solve problems we have created.
Year, after year, we are educated on the importance of keeping our personal surroundings under control to prevent mosquito breeding and year, after year we get vex because we have our private spaces in a mess and expect public resources to be used to rectify the issue.
So please, take the preventative measures needed to combat mosquitos. Only when your house is in order can you go after the government for their short comings.