By Tracy Ramalho
Citizens are being urged to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites in and around their homes to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
This call to action comes from Crystal Crawford, Head of the Medical Entomology Unit of Vector Control Services at the Ministry of Health.
As part of the 2024 Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week (CMAW), running from May 13 to 17, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is leading efforts to raise awareness about the diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.
Crawford emphasized the importance of maintaining clean environments to reduce mosquito breeding sites.
She highlighted the need for community participation in preventing the spread of these diseases.
During a recent episode of the Health Matters program, Crawford identified the prevalent mosquito species in Guyana and the diseases they transmit, including the Anopheles mosquito, which causes malaria.
Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week is themed “Small Bite, Big Threat,” with the slogan “Stop disease transmission, start source reduction.”
The initiative involves countries and territories across the Americas in efforts to mitigate the impact of mosquito-borne illnesses.