Health agencies to hold meetings on Hand-foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in territory
The Ministry of Health has planned a series of community meetings to discuss the recent outbreak of the Hand-foot-and-mouth disease across pre-schools in the territory.
The ministry said these meetings aim to inform operators of pre-schools and day-care facilities as well as parents and guardians on the epidemiological, legal and clinical particulars associated with the disease.
It will also educate the various stakeholders on preventative and control measures.
Besides the Health Ministry, other agencies involved in spearheading the meetings are the Environmental Health Division and the BVI Health Services Authority.
The meetings are all scheduled in zones where childhood centres exist.
Scheduled meetings
All meetings begin at 5:30 pm. The first of the series will be held on Thursday, October 31 at the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School. This meeting is specifically for residents in the Sea Cow’s Bay and Duff’s Bottom areas.
Stakeholders in the Towers, West End and Carrot Bay areas will have their meeting on Friday, November 1 at the Leonora Delville Primary School.
The third meeting will be held on Monday, November 4, for residents of Pasea, Purcell, Johnsons Ghut, Baughers Bay and Belle Vue, at the New Testament Church of God.
The following day — Tuesday, November 5 — will be at the Long Look Methodist Church Hall for areas of Vanterpool Estate and Fat Hog’s Bay.
The final meeting is set for Wednesday, November 6, for residents of Lower Estate, Huntum’s Ghut, Great Mountain and Main Street areas at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School.
What sparked the meetings?
BVI News reported last week that nearly one dozen childcare facilities in the territory were affected by this contagious disease. by National
Epidemiologist, Harmony Brewley said it was a cause for concern locally since the disease had started to become more harmful and resulting in death.
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Thank you, Premier for organizing such an event in what could only be described as quite a serious medical condition, affecting the very young among us!
I am hopeful, that meaningful solutions could be found to prevent continued occurence in this country and will lead, perhaps, to the etiology of this scourge!
Aren’t complications rare? Has a child died in which case is research needed to determine why as HFM disease usually clears up over a couple of weeks?
They can have as many meetings as the United Nations, the place is NASTY AS HELL and until that changes our health issues will only get worst. The BVI is a cesspool, it is NASTY, especially the main island Tortola. It seems we don’t have any shame or pride anymore in this place and that is so sad. I am actually surprised (and glad) that more people are not getting serious illnesses from all the nastiness around from burning toxic garbage, to running sewage and household trash strewn all over the roads, garage huts erected in residential areas where they’re painting vehicles in open air with toxic chemicals without a care. And what we do, hold meetings and blog, good luck!
Earlier in the year there was a BIG VACCINATION drive with idio…I mean people sending their kids in droves. Now ….THIS HA!
Please investigate those people who are taking care of children privately in their homes also.