MHMS FIJI
MHMS FIJI

Tag Communicable Disease

HEALTH: FIGHT AGAINST DENGUE SHOWS POSITIVE RESULTS

 HEALTH: FIGHT AGAINST DENGUE SHOWS POSITIVE RESULTS

Written By: Website Editor

01/04/2014

The Health Ministry has noted that there is a downward trend in the real time statistics for dengue cases.

It has been a month since the since the intersectoral cleanup campaign took off and apart from this a lot of advocacy, awareness, prevention and precaution for dengue had been highlighted through the media continuously.

Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma said, “The story does not end here and the onus is now on individuals to take charge of their environment. People have to understand the environmental aspect effective on public health”.

“The dengue outbreak is a result of climate change and how we keep our environment”, Dr Sharma added.

It is important to also realize that climate change is also a contributor towards the continuation of dengue cases.

The Health Minister also urges municipalities and Fiji Roads Authority to constantly monitor drainage particularly in densely populated areas.

Waste management is an area that needs to be re looked at and improved especially in densely populated areas such as squatter settlements and housing areas.

The public is also urged not to dispose of rubbish irresponsibly as this leads to drain blockages allowing water to become stagnant, providing dengue mosquito a breeding ground.

“People must realize that the cleanliness of oneself and the environment is crucial as it is all linked to health”, said Dr Sharma.

Public health can be improved by looking after the environment and by cleanliness and hygiene practices.

Meanwhile, Dr Sharma also thanked the Fiji Government and Government ministries for their efforts during the cleanup campaign in the fight against dengue.

The Health Ministry is also grateful to the support received from donor agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Fiji Health Sector Support Program (FHSSP), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australian Government, UNICEF, Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the Government of China.

 

HEALTH MINISTRY REMINDS MUNICIPAL COUNCILS TO ASSIST GOVERNMENT IN COMBATING DENGUE FEVER

HEALTH MINISTRY REMINDS MUNICIPAL COUNCILS TO ASSIST GOVERNMENT IN COMBATING DENGUE FEVER

Written By: Evlyn Mani

18/03/2014

The Ministry of Health is urging municipal councils across the country to prioritise Government’s concerns on dengue fever.

In the past few weeks, Government has intensified its campaign against Dengue Fever. Through the Ministry of Health, Government has called on every Fijian to take a proactive approach and discard or destroy areas that are likely to breed mosquitoes. At the same time, the health ministry has called on the private sector including municipal councils to assist Government to assist in these efforts.

The Central Board of Health has issued a circular to municipalities directing immediate collection of damaged white goods and rubbish from respective areas.

Rubbish disposals remaining on the roadside are prone to collect stagnant water that can breed mosquitoes. However despite the concerns raised by the Health Ministry, piles of rubbish continue to be seen lying on the roadsides for weeks.

For these reasons the Health Ministry reiterates and calls on municipalities to take immediate responsibility in carting and disposing of rubbish from roadsides to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes.

HEALTH: FIGHT AGAINST DENGUE SHOWS POSITIVE RESULTS

The Health Ministry has noted that there is a downward trend in the real time statistics for dengue cases.

It has been a month since the since the intersectoral cleanup campaign took off and apart from this a lot of advocacy, awareness, prevention and precaution for dengue had been highlighted through the media continuously.

Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma said, “The story does not end here and the onus is now on individuals to take charge of their environment. People have to understand the environmental aspect effective on public health”.

“The dengue outbreak is a result of climate change and how we keep our environment”, Dr Sharma added.
It is important to also realize that climate change is also a contributor towards the continuation of dengue cases.

The Health Minister also urges municipalities and Fiji Roads Authority to constantly monitor drainage particularly in densely populated areas.

Waste management is an area that needs to be re looked at and improved especially in densely populated areas such as squatter settlements and housing areas.

The public is also urged not to dispose of rubbish irresponsibly as this leads to drain blockages allowing water to become stagnant, providing dengue mosquito a breeding ground.

“People must realize that the cleanliness of oneself and the environment is crucial as it is all linked to health”, said Dr Sharma.

Public health can be improved by looking after the environment and by cleanliness and hygiene practices.

Meanwhile, Dr Sharma also thanked the Fiji Government and Government ministries for their efforts during the cleanup campaign in the fight against dengue.

The Health Ministry is also grateful to the support received from donor agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Fiji Health Sector Support Program (FHSSP), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australian Government, UNICEF, Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the Government of China.

Dengue Fever in Suva – Travellers Notice

The Ministry of Health has declared a Dengue Outbreak in the Central Division particularly in Suva, with an unusual increase in dengue like cases presenting at its health facilities and admitted to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital.  Dengue Fever is endemic in Fiji, meaning it occurs regularly within our population. However, when there are more cases than normally seen, it is considered an outbreak.

Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus when a mosquito bites a dengue-infected person for a blood meal, and injects it into another healthy person. The black-and-white striped dengue-carrying-mosquito prefers to live in-and-around house water containing receptacles and stagnant water. Please refer to the Ministry of Health’s dengue fever fact sheet, which is available at all health facilities and also on the Ministry of Health website, for more information on dengue fever.

Government health facilities in the central health division have been activated to ensure the availability of adequate manpower and the technical resources to accommodate the anticipated initial rise in case numbers of dengue fever infections.

With the current dengue fever situation, the Ministry of Health has advised the population and visitors to the Capital city of Suva, to observe and apply the Ministry of Health’s advice on self-protection to reduce the risk of acquiring the virus infection.

It is important to seek prompt Medical Advice from a nearby health facility if one has symptoms that become worse after 24 hours of home therapy of taking in a lot of fluids and Paracetamol.

For any further information regarding the dengue fever situation in the Central Health division and the capital city of Suva, please contact either Dr. Mike Kama or Dr. Anaseini Moala on (679) 3320066 or (679) 3306177 respectively.