Rudyard Spencer (left), Minister of Health and the Environment, congratulates the recipients of awards at Tuesday's Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Annual Caribbean Awards for Excellence in Health Journalism - the Jamaica Observer's Taneisha Lewis (second left), winner for Best Feature, and Ingrid Brown (centre), winner in three categories, and The Gleaner's Andrea Downer (second right). Also pictured is Dr. Ernest Pate, PAHO\World Health Organisation representative in Jamaica. The ceremony was held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
In a bid to prevent an increase in the number of dengue fever cases, the Ministry of Health and Environment is to observe November 2 to November 4 as Dengue Prevention Weekend.
Health Minister Rudyard Spencer made the disclosure Tuesday, during the 15th Annual Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Annual Caribbean Media Awards for Excellence in Health Journalism, held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston.
Mr. Spencer said activities for this weekend will include promoting the need for persons to clean up their yards and any areas within their communities which are potential breeding sites for mosquitoes, among other things.
The Ministry of Health and Environment recently reported that there were 282 confirmed cases of dengue fever and 1,770 suspected cases.
The ministry also noted that there were 11 suspected cases of the deadly dengue haemorrhagic fever.
Increasing number of rats
Meanwhile, Mr. Spencer said emphasis must also be placed on the increasing number of rats in communities.
"I think the rat population is at a level that is totally unacceptable," the Health Minister said. "We were having much success until the recent rains. They are becoming more aggressive"
He continued: "It can't be a lovely sight when you are driving down Knutsford Boulevard 8:30 or 9:00 in the night and, beside a restaurant, if you look you might see some young people standing eating and almost beside them eating with them are some rats which I am sure some cats in Jamaica would be afraid of."
