|
By Fareeza HaniffAs the Ministry of Health continues the struggle in dealing with the malaria situation in the country, almost 800 cases have been found in the Omai area.Up to the end of September of this year,Detroit Tigers Omar Infante Jersey, a total of 8,Miami Marlins Edinson Volquez Jersey,270 malaria cases have been recorded in the country by the Health Ministry, as opposed 7,900 cases in 2008 during the same period.Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, at his recent press conference, said his Ministry is now challenged by new areas which did not have a huge malaria problem, but are now experiencing a moderate level of malaria.As it relates to the Omai area, Dr. Ramsammy explained that when the original company, Golden Star Resources Inc. was in operation, not many malaria cases were reported, because there was organised living,Chris Carter Jersey, sanitation was taken care of,Dansby Swanson Jersey, health services were offered and the environment was kept clean. However, at this time, the complete opposite is occurring in the area.“What has happened since Omai ended its operation, is that now you have hundreds of small miners that have appeared on the scene…it’s disorganised mining….it’s people who don’t pay attention to the living standards and environmental control and the permanent presence of health care providers is not there,” Minister Ramsammy explained.He added that small scale mining has increased in Guyana and it would continue as the price for gold increases.“That’s the kind of challenge we are faced with.”Over the past few weeks, officials from the Health Ministry met with officials from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Miners’ Association, while a meeting will follow some time this week with the Forestry Producers Association,Jimmy Rollins Jersey, where all the partners can confront the issue.Meanwhile, Guyana will not be able to maintain malaria at the target established, which was below 10,000 cases in 2008. As a matter of fact,Houston Astros Carlos Beltran Jersey, that figure will be exceeded as the Health Ministry estimates that approximately 11,000 malaria cases will be recorded at the end of the year.However,Cleveland Indians Yan Gomes Jersey, the 8,000 target established for 2012 has remained.Recently,Matt Belisle Jersey, it was revealed that the Guyana Government, through the Ministry of Health,Travis Shaw Jersey, on a yearly basis spends approximately $300 to $400 million on malaria infections within the country.The bulk of this money goes towards maintaining health workers, conducting smears, testing and treating persons infected.The rest of the money goes towards purchasing medicines and bed nets, which are distributed free of cost to persons in the interior locations. |
|