Dear Editor,
While the number of chikungunya cases across the island rises our parliamentarians are arguing and pointing fingers at each other.
The Opposition accuses the Government of not speaking the truth as to the amount of people who are infected, while the Government on the other hand is accusing the Opposition of trying to cause panic with regards to the virus. This finger-pointing of the parties does not help the situation and cannot cause the virus to go away.
What is important is information on the signs and symptoms of the virus and what to do if and when the symptoms are felt. The Opposition spokesman on health, Dr Ken Baugh said he was concerned that Jamaicans believe that the virus is not only mosquito transmitted. But I am sure that Dr Baugh can help to dispel that myth by assuring citizens that it is. Dengue is also similarly transmitted with similar symptoms and both parties have medical representatives that know what the procedure is to determine the presence of the chikungunya virus. Therefore there is no need to heckle the Government for figures. The government should be focusing on the fogging, drain-cleaning and public education, not political tracing over what who said.
What is important is information on the signs and symptoms of the virus and what to do if and when the symptoms are felt. The Opposition spokesman on health, Dr Ken Baugh said he was concerned that Jamaicans believe that the virus is not only mosquito transmitted. But I am sure that Dr Baugh can help to dispel that myth by assuring citizens that it is. Dengue is also similarly transmitted with similar symptoms and both parties have medical representatives that know what the procedure is to determine the presence of the chikungunya virus. Therefore there is no need to heckle the Government for figures. The government should be focusing on the fogging, drain-cleaning and public education, not political tracing over what who said.
Now as citizens we have our part to play by disposing of our garbage in the right way and not in gullies or on the road. We need to work to get rid of mosquito-breeding sites around the home and we must purchase repellents, destroyers, insect sprays, etc to minimise interaction with mosquitoes. Sitting down and waiting on the health ministry to have a national clean-up day wastes valuable time.
The virus is no respector of persons and cares not if you are the Opposition leader, attend school in St Thomas, play for Waterhouse United, or received fewer votes than Everald Warmington. Can we for once put away the politics and unite for the cause of Jamaicans? Dr Baugh and Dr Ferguson let us put hands, hearts and efforts to together to fight against the virus and not each other.
Hezekan Bolton
St Catherine
Politicians should fight chik-V not each other
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While the number of chikungunya cases across the island rises our parliamentarians are arguing and pointing fingers at each other.
The Opposition accuses the Government of not speaking the truth as to the amount of people who are infected, while the Government on the other hand is accusing the Opposition of trying to cause panic with regards to the virus. This finger-pointing of the parties does not help the situation and cannot cause the virus to go away.
What is important is information on the signs and symptoms of the virus and what to do if and when the symptoms are felt. The Opposition spokesman on health, Dr Ken Baugh said he was concerned that Jamaicans believe that the virus is not only mosquito transmitted. But I am sure that Dr Baugh can help to dispel that myth by assuring citizens that it is. Dengue is also similarly transmitted with similar symptoms and both parties have medical representatives that know what the procedure is to determine the presence of the chikungunya virus. Therefore there is no need to heckle the Government for figures. The government should be focusing on the fogging, drain-cleaning and public education, not political tracing over what who said.
What is important is information on the signs and symptoms of the virus and what to do if and when the symptoms are felt. The Opposition spokesman on health, Dr Ken Baugh said he was concerned that Jamaicans believe that the virus is not only mosquito transmitted. But I am sure that Dr Baugh can help to dispel that myth by assuring citizens that it is. Dengue is also similarly transmitted with similar symptoms and both parties have medical representatives that know what the procedure is to determine the presence of the chikungunya virus. Therefore there is no need to heckle the Government for figures. The government should be focusing on the fogging, drain-cleaning and public education, not political tracing over what who said.
Now as citizens we have our part to play by disposing of our garbage in the right way and not in gullies or on the road. We need to work to get rid of mosquito-breeding sites around the home and we must purchase repellents, destroyers, insect sprays, etc to minimise interaction with mosquitoes. Sitting down and waiting on the health ministry to have a national clean-up day wastes valuable time.
The virus is no respector of persons and cares not if you are the Opposition leader, attend school in St Thomas, play for Waterhouse United, or received fewer votes than Everald Warmington. Can we for once put away the politics and unite for the cause of Jamaicans? Dr Baugh and Dr Ferguson let us put hands, hearts and efforts to together to fight against the virus and not each other.
Hezekan Bolton
St Catherine
Politicians should fight chik-V not each other
-->