No water-borne diseases in Region Two -RHO Dr. Ranjeev Singh

−health teams monitoring flooded areas

Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two) Dr. Ranjeev Singh, says to date there have been no reports of any outbreak of water-borne diseases in flood-affected areas there.

Speaking to DPI on Thursday, Dr. Singh said health teams have been dispatched across affected areas in the Upper and Lower Pomeroon to assess the situation.

“We don’t have any reports of any outbreak so far. I have teams on the ground along with myself, assessing the floods. Environmental health staff are also guiding the communities on how to treat their water and how to have foot-baths and so on,” he said.

Several communities in the Upper and Lower Pomeroon are inundated following days of heavy rainfall. Dr. Singh said teams have been distributing cleaning agents to ensure that people can sanitise their surroundings.

“The teams yesterday also distributed some 420 gallons of bleach to homes, public buildings, such as health centres, which have been flooded as well.”

Region Two RHO, Dr. Ranjeev Singh and his team delivering cleaning agents (bleach) to Siriki community on Wednesday.

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony said Wednesday that the Ministry, through the Regional Health Services, is keeping a close watch for possible outbreaks of water-borne diseases. He said Government is also working to ensure regions have adequate amounts of medications.

“We have been bringing them [pharmaceuticals] into the country and then getting them to the various regions so that’s an ongoing process. Dealing specifically with waterborne illnesses, one of the things that we have to look out for in children is diarrhoeal diseases.

And so, our teams have been observing to see whether or not we will see spikes in diarrhoeal diseases. So far, we haven’t seen in any region that they have been spikes.”

Region Two RHO, Dr. Ranjeev Singh and his team delivering cleaning agents (bleach) to Siriki community on Wednesday.

The Minister also noted that oral rehydration salts have been distributed to health centres across the regions to treat diarrhoeal diseases.

Additionally, Dr. Anthony said the Ministry has not received any reports of cases of leptospirosis. Regional authorities say the flooding in the Pomeroon is due to extremely high spring tides and heavy rainfall. The water levels have reportedly reached about six feet. Several communities are affected, including Karawab, St. Monica, Siriki, Jacklow, Abrams Creek, Friendship, and Aberdeen.