Given the recent cases of flooding experienced in some parts of the country, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services is advising people to take precautionary measures and be vigilant in terms of looking after their health and wellbeing of their families.

Some of the key messages in terms of health and hygiene are as follows:

Store as much rain water in a clean container with proper lid or cover

Boil all drinking water as boiling is the surest method to make water safer to drink by killing disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites

Keep hydrated by drinking enough water

Practice good Hygiene: To help prevent the spread of disease that can cause illness, it is important to wash your hands often. Germs are spread when people forget to wash their hands. Always wash your hands with soap and water.

 Wash your hands well before preparing food and also before eating, wash your hands properly.

Environmental cleanliness has also been advised as floods can potentially increase the transmission of the following communicable diseases: Water-borne diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis Vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue.

The Ministry’s key messages in terms of preventing dengue and mosquito borne diseases are as follows:

Destroy mosquito breeding grounds.

Prolonged rainfall and floods provide new breeding grounds – wet areas and stagnant pools – for mosquitoes and can lead to an increase in the number of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue.

Cut grass.

Clean blocked drains and roof gutters.

Empty water from all unused containers.

Cover stored water in tight fitting lid.

Keep unused tyres dry.

Bury cans and bottles.

To avoid mosquito bites

Wear effective repellant.

Wear long sleeved light clothing.

Make use of mosquito nets.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services continuously reminds the public to destroy breeding grounds of mosquitoes. Working collectively is the best way forward to ensure that we take the preventative measures.

The Ministry of Health personnel’s are also monitoring areas affected by floods and are carrying out health interventions which consists of medical checks, inspection of dwelling houses, sanitation and water facilities and provision of health advisory.

Source: Ministry of Health

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