‘Recently, there have been complaints here from the private sector and persons infected with the viral disease that the health authorities have been suppressing figures about the number of chikungunya cases. During an interview with Stabroek News yesterday, Dr. Hospedales, responding to a question, said that Guyana and other countries have been addressed on releasing information. “We advise all government to be transparent with people about whatever health conditions are being experienced and as fast as new information comes to light that information should be made available,” he said, while noting that sometimes there is a lag occurring at the community level— where people would not go to the doctor; where doctors would not tell them what is going on— and as such discrepancies are created. Dr Hospedales, who was in the country for Caribbean Wellness Week activities, said the number of people infected will continue to rise in the next few months and he therefore urged countries to step up their vector control and public education on the virus. “The threat from dengue has been building for many years and it has been gradually getting more frequent and more severe,” he said, while adding that it was a signal that “what we have been doing hasn’t been working properly and now on top of that chikungunya arises.” He said in six months the chikungunya disease has spread from where it was first spotted in St. Martin to nearly all Caribbean territories. “That indicates that it is a significant challenge for us,” he said.’
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 12:40:01 +0000
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