Duncan-Price to lead ZikV sensitisation in St Andrew East Rural
GOVERNMENT Senator Imani Duncan-Price, who will represent the ruling People’s National Party in St Andrew East Rural in the next general election, is to lead a sensitisation campaign and clean-up of the the constiuency beginning this Sunday against the threat of the Zika virus (ZikV) to the island.
Duncan-Price is also calling on her opponent, the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party’s Juliet Holness, to join in the effort.
The four-week clean-up and sensitisation campaign will be carried out under the theme ‘Our Community-Our Responsibility’ and will mobilise community-based organisations and residents to clear the communities of possible mosquito-breeding sites. Key areas to be covered are Bull Bay, Harbour View, Kintyre, Gordon Town, and Mavis Bank.
“We have seen the negative effects of the Chikungunya virus on our island in 2014 and, with the Government guidance on Zik V in high gear, I have organised a series of clean-up initiatives across St Andrew East Rural,” she explained, urging the “fulticipation” of members of the constituency.
“We must remember that this type of push is not the work of Government alone; it’s about of each and every one of us doing what we can to ensure we keep the areas around our homes clean and free of breeding sites. Our homes are our personal responsibility, our communities are our collective responsibility. Together we can make a difference,” she added, noting that health officials and councillors will also be involved in the process.
Current Member of Parliament Damion Crawford has hailed Duncan-Price for being proactive.
“I commend the proactivity of Senator Duncan-Price as we move to sensitise, educate, and clean up St Andrew East Rural. We want to ensure the residents of St Andrew East Rural and the entire Jamaica for a matter of fact are educated, enabled and prepared to fight against this mosquito-borne virus. At the same time, we have to encourage citizens to make the behaviour change and keep our places clean,” he said.
Duncan-Price, meanwhile, has called on representatives of other consituencies to launch similar projects.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health declared St Andrew among the seven parishes most at risk of the Zika virus, which has already been detected in 19 countries in the region.
