Dr. Godfrey Xuereb (left), PAHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, speaking with Professor Clive Landis, Deputy Principal of the UWI Cave Hill campus and Chairman of the UWI Zika Task Force, during the symposium.
Several members from the community and religious institutions attended the symposium.
CHURCH CAN HELP IN FIGHT AGAINST ZIKA
Thu, 04/28/2016 - 12:00am
By:
Peta Rowe-Forde
THE Aedes Aegypti mosquito is said to be able to travel only 100 metres in its life cycle and Barbadians are being asked to ensure that this range between their homes and their surroundings be kept mosquito free, due to the notion that if there are no mosquitoes, there can be no Zika.
This is the basis of the message coming out of the UWI Zika Task Force symposium, which engaged the faith-based organisations in the fight against Zika yesterday at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). Acknowledging the important role that the Church plays in the Barbadian society, representatives from UWI and PAHO took the opportunity to discuss with these leaders the current dynamics of the virus.
Dr. Godfrey Xuereb, PAHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, stated that it is because of the wide reach that faith-based organisations have that they are important in the fight. He stated that moral and ethical discussions will arise concerning the virus and the unborn and so, equipping health-care professionals with solutions, though there are none that are easy, is the way to go.
However, this is only the first step. Professor Clive Landis, Deputy Principal of UWI Cave Hill campus and Chairman of the task force, noted that the task force is seeking to pioneer widespread community engagement on this topic.
Landis went on to say that news out of Brazil seems to be getting increasingly worse, and this is a cause for concern. In light of this, addressing the audience, Landis explained that God has held back the rains, which could account for the low number of Zika cases here. Nevertheless, as we drift into the rainy season, he expects that these numbers will rise.
Considering this, Landis asked those attending the symposium to share their concerns, fears and hopes, so that all will be aired and discussed, and each participant was presented with their “Zero Zika Zone” kits, outlining ways in which they can go and teach their respective assemblies how to reduce the breeding of mosquitoes.
Furthermore, the symposium conducted yesterday is somewhat of an experiment, according to Xuereb, that given its success, it will be replicated in various countries in the Caribbean. Added to that, the Zika Task Force is calling on the private sector to get involved in spreading awareness and join the fight against Zika.