MoH Monitors Flood Situation

Diarrhea, Hepatitis A, and other related illnesses are among several health conditions that can become an epidemic in the aftermath of floods.  Over the weekend, the Ministry of Health issued a release on best practices to implement in respect of water and food safety and concerns relating to dengue, chikungunya and malaria. As images surfaced on social media of children and adults swimming in the dirty waters, health officials became even more concerned about their exposure to illnesses. Area Rep. Anthony Boots Martinez, told News Five, that he was preoccupied because in the immediate area of Fabers Road and Jane Usher Boulevard, the sewage lagoon or dyke was overflowing and contaminating the flood waters.  Martinez as well as Jane Usher resident, Ervin Longsworth want the health authorities to visit the area when the water subsides.

Ervin Longsworth

Ervin Longsworth, Resident, Jane Usher Boulevard Area

“If yo look pan it, yo got the dyke weh noh deh far from here; the dyke is right over there and that over flood. I mean this morning, when the water di come up, because my septic tank deh kinda low and everything mi di come up from the sewage; the sewage water mi di come up ina the house. So we have a major problem with that health problem. After this go down, we wah need assistance with getting some shots for the kids back here because today wah lotta the kids mi di play ina di water. They just take it for fun, but dehn noh realize the health problem because yo could end up with some rash, some serious itch…I mean breakout pan yo.”

Duane Moody

“Is there a concern when it comes to health issues. We know that in the back there, there is that sewage system and they’ve reported that people as well as kids are in the waters and all of that.”

Anthony “Boots” Martinez

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Area Rep., Port Loyola

“That is a main issue for me. I was out there dissuading children from playing in that water because you know at Faber’s Road that’s the final lagoon for the sewer system. And in my view, I am having a fear of having an epidemic breaking out there. In fact I want the Ministry of Health to go do some testing in around Port Loyola, especially to the tail end of Jane Usher Boulevard and Fabers Road because you know with flooding everything will come together including what I believe would be dangers from the lagoon at Fabers Road. So I have my own health concerns apart from the infrastructural concerns.”