Eighteen students living at the Government School dormitory at Waramadong, Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) have tested positive for malaria and a medical team is to visit today.
The Government Information Agency said that the students who hail from different parts of Region Seven recently returned to the school after spending the Christmas vacation in their respective villages.
Staff of the Regional Vector Control Department conducted smears on over 40 students and 18 tested positive, Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran told GINA last evening. He said the Health Ministry was alerted yesterday afternoon of the situation and the Regional Vector Control staff carried out the smears. An emergency medical mission will be dispatched with the assistance of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) early this morning, GINA stated. Regional Health Officer (RHO) (ag) for Region 7, Merlene Ferrier advised the Health Minister of the situation at around 16.30 hrs yesterday, GINA said. There are about 900 students and 550 adults living in the village.
Through the GDF’s assistance, the team will take in medical supplies which include bales of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets along with additional medication, spray cans with chemicals to spray the surroundings, and microscopes to conduct the mass smears in the community.
The emergency team is headed by Dr. Reyaud Rahaman, Government Medical Officer. He will be accompanied by four experienced microscopists of the National Malaria Control Programme who will be taking along the microscopes and other paraphernalia for diagnosing malaria. The team also comprises staff for spraying.
Along with the mass smears, an intense sensitisation exercise will be conducted accompanied by the distribution of flyers and the bed nets.
