THE Health Ministry is intensifying its efforts to combat the increasing number of dengue cases in the country through heightened public awareness and enforcement measures.
This was disclosed at a media conference held at the Ministry of Health’s Head Office in Queen’s Park East on Friday.
Technical Director of Epidemiology, Dr Avery Hinds, reported that three counties—Victoria, St Patrick, and Caroni—have recorded the highest number of dengue cases so far, with St George East and West also experiencing significant numbers.
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh announced that 31 citations have been issued to homeowners who have been found to harbour mosquito breeding grounds. These homeowners have been given seven days to clean their surroundings.
The citations were distributed as follows: ten in the St. Andrew/St David district, 15 in Victoria, two in St Patrick, and four in Nariva/Mayaro.
“We will be ramping up the inspections of properties by our public health inspectors and giving property owners a reasonable time to clean up their properties. If they don’t, we will apply the necessary legal fines,” Deyalsingh stated.
This comment follows Deyalsingh’s announcement earlier in the week that the ministry will impose fines of up to $3,500 on property owners whose premises are found to be breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
The MOH again mismanaged a pending Dengue disaster. This dengue outbreak was brought to the attention of the MOH, Terrence the terrible et al about two months ago by the outbreak in Guyana and Venezuela. The MOH and Terrence the Terrible did nothing and slept on the info, The approach was similar to the Covid 19 pandemic. Mismanagement . The MOH was one off corrective as opposed to preventive action. This dengue will likely become a national disaster because of lack of foresight and initiatives and they will everyone but the MOH who again shows lack of leadership