Local government ministry to assist dengue fight

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development will be providing funds for the emergency response to contain the dengue outbreak, according to portfolio minister Desmond McKenzie.

Speaking with journalists at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday, the minister said that the resources will be channelled through the National Solid Waste Management Authority. He said discussions have commenced with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to have the "agency roll out some programmes" to ensure communities are cleaned. The minister said that within a few days, the clean-up programmes will start in the areas identified by the health ministry and then extended to other communities, while urging community members to ensure that "proper garbage disposal" is carried out.

As at September 22, the country had recorded 565 suspected, presumed and confirmed cases of dengue. Of that number, 78 cases had been confirmed, with the majority of the cases seen in Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine and St Thomas.