Providenciales, TCI, August 11, 2016 – A national outbreak is what the leader of the PDA fears as he called on the Minister and Ministry of Health to step up on visible efforts in the fight to control Zika; which is now in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Oswald Skippings says Health needs to be more proactive and transparent when dealing with Zika Virus cases. I quote him now:
“The fact that there is so much secrecy shrouding the whereabouts of the cases discovered of this potentially dangerous virus in the Turks and Caicos, not only deprives the public of the opportunity of knowing where to exercise the uttermost caution, but it puts pregnant and potentially pregnant women at an unnecessary higher risk.”
Skippings called the approach, insensitive and unprofessional adding that the manner of Health Officials speaks to the ‘lack of concern for the well being of our people’ end quote. The PDA Leader does not believe the distribution of mosquito nets, and advice to use more insecticides is enough.
The PDA he said would, “change the current policy of pumping out or treating settled water in public areas only thereby avoiding private property, employing and training more Turks and Caicos Islanders in the Environmental Health Department to effectively cover the entire country and putting in place a structured vector control program nationwide.”
It was On July 23rd that the country learned of five Zika cases; there has been no national update since July 25th when the Premier & Health Minister, Rufus Ewing addressed this very serious health issue in the House of Assembly.
