Dear Editor,
I must say that this chikungunya situation between the Government and, what oddly enough seems to be the people of Jamaica, never had to get to this stage.
While we have got used to politicians, in this case Dr Fenton Ferguson, protecting their place, it is disappointing to see senior civil servants promulgate clearly misleading information to the public.
My concern centres on the fact that the Ministry of Health's Director for Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse, the official voice on the chikungunya outbreak, repeatedly states figures that are very obviously understated and not reflective of the real impact of the virus on the Jamaican population. Up to last weekend the number of confirmed chikungunya cases went up to 24, a far cry from what seems to be hundreds if not thousands of possible cases across St Thomas, the Corporate Area and St
Catherine alone.
It shouldn't have taken Delano Seiveright to bring this to light as I am sure that Dr Bullock-Ducasse, in her official capacity, must have received widespread reports from hospitals, clinics and private doctors' offices crowded with people suffering from mild to severe symptoms linked to chikungunya.
On top of this, the overwhelming majority of these persons are told that they have chikungunya and recommended treatments. Hardly any of these people are tested, thereby putting in grave doubt the official figures being put out publicly by the ministry.
Our civil servants should do their best to not be swayed by political considerations, especially when dealing with people's health. After all, we are running out of people to trust these days.
I do pray a lesson is learnt by all.
Allen Williams
Kingston 19
allenwptmr@outlook.com
Are we being misled?
-->
I must say that this chikungunya situation between the Government and, what oddly enough seems to be the people of Jamaica, never had to get to this stage.
While we have got used to politicians, in this case Dr Fenton Ferguson, protecting their place, it is disappointing to see senior civil servants promulgate clearly misleading information to the public.
My concern centres on the fact that the Ministry of Health's Director for Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse, the official voice on the chikungunya outbreak, repeatedly states figures that are very obviously understated and not reflective of the real impact of the virus on the Jamaican population. Up to last weekend the number of confirmed chikungunya cases went up to 24, a far cry from what seems to be hundreds if not thousands of possible cases across St Thomas, the Corporate Area and St
Catherine alone.
It shouldn't have taken Delano Seiveright to bring this to light as I am sure that Dr Bullock-Ducasse, in her official capacity, must have received widespread reports from hospitals, clinics and private doctors' offices crowded with people suffering from mild to severe symptoms linked to chikungunya.
On top of this, the overwhelming majority of these persons are told that they have chikungunya and recommended treatments. Hardly any of these people are tested, thereby putting in grave doubt the official figures being put out publicly by the ministry.
Our civil servants should do their best to not be swayed by political considerations, especially when dealing with people's health. After all, we are running out of people to trust these days.
I do pray a lesson is learnt by all.
Allen Williams
Kingston 19
allenwptmr@outlook.com
Are we being misled?
-->