EDITORIAL - Play your part in fight against mosquitoes

Local residents and visitors to the island are reminded to take precautions against the airborne vector, the mosquito, to safeguard their health and avoid serious complications from viruses.

The current sunny weather being experienced on the island may lull many into being complacent, however there are still many places that are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. That is why the Ministry of Health, through the Government Information Service, continues to educate daily on televised public service announcements about steps to take to avoid being bitten by the dreaded aedes egypti mosquito, in addition to undertaking an eradication programme through fogging in communities.

Also, with the 2018 Hurricane Season beginning in less than two months, people should expect increasingly wet weather in Barbados and this would unfortunately mean more sightings of mosquitoes. Therefore, Barbadians are encouraged to check their surroundings and ensure that there are no areas where water can settle and no containers which could inadvertently capture water, like discarded bottles and used tyres, or water storage tanks and plant saucers. Homeowners should also seek to debush areas surrounding their homes.

Currently on the south coast, there has been an increase in the presence of mosquitoes due to challenges associated with the continuing sewage problem in that area. Although assurances were given that this particular mosquito influx was not the dangerous aedes egypti mosquito, which can cause Dengue Fever, Chikungunya and the Zika virus, it is still a pest and as such can have a negative impact on visitor experience and cause damage to local tourism.

Minister of Health, John Boyce, has already addressed this and pointed to increased fogging in that area, but hoteliers and homeowners can assist by treating their own surroundings and, in the case of the former, making provisions to protect their guests by installing screens and providing nets and repellents for use as part of a service charge. Though there may be arguments against this step because of additional expenses, the cost to overall business and to the island’s tourism industry would be immeasurable if visitors have negative reviews due to a problem that could have been avoided with some foresight.

Overall though, Barbadians need do away with the lackadaisical attitude whereby they refuse to look to help themselves. This mentality has led to the misguided belief that, whether they are capable of doing so or not, it is Government’s duty to fog neighbourhoods and clean up environs which could be potential breeding grounds.

Granted, the south coast sewage problem falls squarely on the shoulders of Government to fix, but common sense also has to come into play. While the Ministry of Health has been given a mandate to keep our environs clean, every person must still do what they can as well, for it impacts us all, so everyone must be willing to step up and, at the very least, keep their own property and communities clean.

This year, it is hoped that reported cases of mosquito-borne viruses are vastly reduced and good examples set for future generations.