| – 2014 had lowest figure in over 20 yearsBy Desilon DanielsAs the Guyana Vector Control Services (VCS) continue its efforts in reducing mosquito-borne diseases,Reyaud Rahman, Director of the Vector Control Servicesthe organisation has recorded its lowest figure in the past two decades.According to information coming out of the VCS, Guyana recorded 11,426 malaria cases in 2014. This figure was a huge drop from 2012 and 2013, which recorded 31,601 and 31,479 cases respectively.The highest recorded figure in the past ten years was in 2005. Then, there had been 38,984 recorded malaria cases. Though this figure progressively dropped between 2006 to 2008,Wholesale NFL Jerseys China, an upsurge began from 2009 until it hit record numbers in 2012 and 2013.From the period of 2005 to 2014, there have been just over 197,000 recorded malaria cases.According to Reyaud Rahman, Director of the VCS, last year’s reduced incidence was attained through rigorous efforts by the organisation.He explained that efforts were made from the 1940’s to the 1960’s and the disease was eradicated along the coastland.However, he said, the ministry “dropped the ball” in the subsequent years and there was a noticeable surge. He added that in 1993 there had been about 85,000 recorded malaria cases.Rahman said that, following the high number recorded in 2012, the VCS recognized the need to up its game and properly tackle malaria.At the time, he said, the central malaria clinic in Georgetown was seeing in excess of 180 persons visiting daily. Out of this figure, about 80 to 100 persons were positively diagnosed with malaria eachPersonnel of the Vector Control Services are forced to endure difficult terrain to do their jobs.day.“We needed to go in a different direction; we had to have a new approach,” Rahman said.This new approach involved improved structure and more engagement with the population and other agencies. He said agencies such as the Guyana Police Force,Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic, Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and the Forestry Commission came onboard.“We allowed everyone to come and we explained that this was our fight but it’s a bigger fight and we needed help,” Rahman explained. He went on,Jerseys Cheap Wholesale, “We did mass smears, we did mass work, we distributed a lot of materials and tried to educate people as much as possible…We continued doing our work and put all the effort in 2012.In 2013 we pushed even harder and in 2014 we saw a dramatic decrease because of the work we were doing.”Rahman noted that the number was cut by more than half in just a year. He further said that the central malaria clinic now has about 30 patients coming in daily with less than 15 being testing positive.Gold lureThough malaria has been eradicated along the coastline, Rahman said that the lure of gold to interior areas is “driving malaria numbers up” and giving these regions the most recorded malaria cases.According to Rahman, the endemic areas in Guyana are in Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9. Over the past year approximately 150,000 individuals from the mining communities were tested for malaria.He further said that it was recognised that there was correlation between the upsurge in gold production and high malaria numbers. He said gold miners and loggers were identified as key stakeholders and were constantly being engaged by the VCS.“As gold went up, we knew for a fact that it would draw people back into the interior and you would have more infection. This is one of the main things that were driving these numbers up,” Rahman said.He also said suggestions were received to regulate the miners and to “clamp down” on them. However, Rahman noted that gold mining and Guyana “go hand in hand”.“This [mining] is a large part of our GDP and we have to live with this…Once gold is in Guyana and is being produced – no matter what the price is – some persons will continue to mine. This is the culture, this is all some people know…so it’s not going anywhere,” he emphasised.Instead, he said, the VCS began working on extending its reach to these endemic areas and driving high numbers down.However, Rahman said their efforts were “up and down” and were being stymied by factors such as the regions’ terrains. Treatment, in particular, was of concern and he said the organisation was not yet fully on its game in the delivery of prompt treatment to patients.“We cannot do active case detection if we don’t have facilities or equipment to do it,” Rahman said. He continued, “Malaria is different from other diseases and that’s why it’s so important that we get to these people. If we don’t get to them,Cheap NBA Jerseys China, they get sicker, they pass the disease on to other people and we don’t break transmission. Persons could potentially die, especially in these places.”Rahman maintained that malaria is not a disease that people should be dying from as it is easy to diagnose and treatable.He further said, cases in the interior were being transported out of these locations and were being recorded in coastland areas. Rahman opined that this was due to the fact that many miners were from the coastland.The VCS is working assiduously to reduce the high numbers of malaria cases. However, Rahman said there is a shortage of personnel. He emphasised the need for more persons to be involved in the malaria testing process. In the meantime,Cheap NFL jerseys China, the VCS will continue its routine mass blood surveys,Cheap Jerseys 2018, lectures, and fogging exercises, he said.According to Rahman, over 75,000 nets were distributed last year. |
