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Saint Lucia
– The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition, through its Environmental Health Division, conducted a community clean-up exercise in Au Leon, Dennery on Saturday, February14, aspart of ongoing efforts to reduce vector breeding sites and lower the risk of mosquito-borneillnesses.
Environmental Health Officers, with support from community members, workedcollaboratively to remove garbage and identify potential high-risk areas for mosquito breedingthroughout the community. The initiative forms part of the Ministry’s broader strategytostrengthen vector control measures and promote healthier living environments.
Senior Environmental Health Officer for Vector Control, Charletta Charles-Leon, underscoredthe importance of community engagement in sustaining vector control efforts and fosteringbehavioral change: “What we want to really gain out of it is that we’ve raised some level ofawareness.
The community is more aware of the actions or how their actions and behaviorcan trigger a spike in vector-borne diseases. And basically just encourage cleaner sanitationwithin the community, clean environment, healthy environment.” While the clean-up activity delivered immediate results, local government representativesemphasized that sustained improvements will depend on consistent community action.
EmrandMatthew, Chairperson of the Dennery North Constituency Council, highlighted the Council’songoing efforts and called for continued public cooperation: “It is something that we believeshould continue. Of course, the Council, on countless occasions, would have made the ef ort to clear the area of those wastes. We also would want to make a special appeal to the people, ofcourse, to take heed of bulk collection days and other waste so that this accumulationdoesn’t happen and continue in the community.”
The Deputy Chairperson of the Dennery North Constituency Council, Kendal Emmanuel, pointed to the need for stronger regulatory measures to address improper waste disposal: “I thinkthe time has come where we need to have legislation that will bring that level of deterrent where persons will be held responsible, where they’re not adhering to the basic standardsofproper waste disposal.”
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition continues to encourage residents to properlydispose of waste, make full use of bulk collection services, and regularly clear their surroundings of items that can collect standing water.
These simple but consistent actions are critical inpreventing mosquito breeding and reducing the risk of vector-borne diseases within communities.
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