As the mosquito nuisance continues, a team from the Guyana Environmental Capacity Building Project is working on a pilot project to control the vector in an environmentally friendly manner.
Chief Inspector at the Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Karanchand Krishnalall told Stabroek News that they are using a “biological method to reduce the density of mosquito larvae population that transmits mosquito-borne diseases.”
Some of the diseases spread by mosquitoes include malaria, filaria and dengue and yellow fevers.
The team started the study at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice on Monday last and it is the second being conducted in the country with the first being in the interior.
Heading the team is Dr Palmira Ventosilla of Peru while other members are Nurses Elizabeth Puntous of Canada and Donielle Douglas of Guyana.
Meanwhile, Regional Health Officer (RHO) (acting), Adriana James was happy that the project was being held in her region.
She said too that a Health Sector Disaster Unit was formed in the region recently. The unit is made up of the RHO, regional chairman and vice-chairman, Regional Executive Offi-cer, Dr Alexander Sinclair and Senior Health Visitor, Nurse Deslyn Fraser.
Since assuming duties as RHO, Dr James was honoured to be part of a function to mark Nurses’ Day last month. She was among other representatives from the MOH that addressed a gathering of 69 nurses.
She has also taken steps to improve health care in the region by posting some of the doctors to health centres.
This initiative, which has also been implemented in other regions, was started so residents can visit the nearest health centres to seek treatment instead of travelling to the Fort Wellington and Mahaicony hospitals.