The Caribbean Voice is advising the local health ministry to consider the Sri Lankan Model related to agro-chemicals which has been proven to be highly successful in reducing suicides in that nation by 50%, instead of establishing Poison Control Centres.
The New York-based group made this statement in response to an announcement by Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud that plans are in train to establish Poison Control Centres countrywide to provide expert advice to persons exposed to hazardous materials with a view to reducing Guyana’s suicide rates.
The Caribbean Voice said it hoped that Dr Persaud is aware that information by itself is useless, unless it is acted upon, adding that it looks forward to the unfolding of other measures aimed at ensuring that information disseminated by the Poison Control Centres is utilized to the fullest, that utilization is monitored, and that follow up is mandated.
However, the paper said the Sri Lankan Model reduced suicide in that nation by 50% from 1996-2005 compared to 1986-1995 – a reduction of approximately 19,800 suicides after the model was introduced.
“There is no such proven track record for Poison Control Centres,” the group said.
“The Sri Lankan model encompasses:
“1. Introducing a minimum agro-chemicals list restricting the use of pesticides to a smaller number of pesticides least dangerous to humans.
“2. Placing import restrictions to ensure that more dangerous chemicals do not enter the country.
“3. Restricting the availability of agro-chemicals by ensuring they are stored safely in locked boxes in rural households, along with all equipment with which these pesticides are used.
“4. Ensuring that empty containers are safely and effectively disposed of.
“5. Restricting sale of agro-chemicals only to licensed premises and to licensed farmers.
“6. Implementing administrative controls to ensure that sales outlets safely store all agro-chemicals.
“7. Implementing an ongoing safe use policy to educate people about safe handling, use, storage and disposal. Concurrently, for small-scale farming, non-chemical methods, including organic farming, should be encouraged.
“8. Improving medical management of pesticide poisoning: an important facet of control because better management will reduce the number of deaths. Requirements are the better availability of antidotes (both in central referral hospitals and ideally in peripheral health units) and ventilation facilities, better training, and better evidence for interventions.
“9. Constantly monitoring all measures to ensure ongoing conformity, including random home visits to check for locked box storage and field visits to ensure that only licensed premises and licensed farmers have access to chemicals and that safe handling, use, storage and disposal are in effect.”
Given that the majority of suicides in Guyana result from ingestion of agro-chemicals, the paper submitted that the Health and Agriculture ministries collaborate with stakeholder ministries or agencies to adapt relevant aspects of the Sri Lankan model with a view to creating a similar document for Guyana. This initiative “should cost less than poison control centres.
The most difficult part would be regular enforcement but, given what is at stake, surely the resources should be employed accompanied by political will to ensure success,” the paper said.
