Now while health authorities have to take a "wait and see" approach in that case, they have to be proactive when it comes to the larger public health threat. So what is the plan? And when can we expect it to start rolling out? Well according to Health CEO Figueroa that plan is already rolling, but the ZIKA fight has to be more than just a Government response.
Dr. Ramon Figueroa, CEO, Ministry of Health
"The activities continue to be basically the same, heighten surveillance. We continue to do our monitoring, rash and fever illness and taking samples to send to CARPHA for testing and at the same time doing interventions to eliminate the root causes or the root determinants of the disease which is eliminating mosquito breeding sites, cleaning up yards, drains and so on. Over this past weekend on Sunday, was a major activity, the Ministry of Health personnel took together with the city council in Belmopan and the village council in Cotton Tree doing major clean up campaigns. This is the kind of partnership that we want to continue to foster and implement as we address the issue of the breeding sites for the mosquito."
Emanuel Pech
"I know the main thing that the ministry always says is 'we need more community support, we need more community involvement in fighting this disease', but is there anything significant being done at the ministry level in terms of reallocating resources?"
Dr. Ramon Figueroa, CEO, Ministry of Health
"Yes, the ministry has invested some of its own resources both in terms of personnel dedicated to addressing the issue of Zika and the national response, but as well in procuring and purchasing supplies like the repellents, bed nets, insecticides for spraying and ensuring that vehicles are made available. So yes the ministry is investing and yes the ministry is allocating resources to this area. If you calculate what is actually needed and if you determine that the best intervention is community based intervention, there's no way with the Ministry of Health allocating resources you can make a... without community participation and without the support of other important stake holders."
So far there have only been 2 confirmed cases of Zika in Belize but the Ministry remains on high alert, especially now as we enter the rainy season- which is when mosquito populations multiply.
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