JIS: Five hundred and fifty-two schools have been inspected and fogged ahead of the start of the new academic year in September by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

 

This announcement was made by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, at the Ministry’s Quarterly Press Briefing, on Tuesday (August 27), at the head office in New Kingston.

 

“That process is ongoing and will continue through the first few weeks of school to ensure that our children are protected in that environment,” Dr. Tufton said.

 

One major goal from conducting these inspections and fogging is to ensure schools are prepared to accommodate students and not let them become infected by the dengue virus through the breeding of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes on school compounds across the island.

 

He said representatives from the Ministry have also examined water catchment facilities at the schools, observed their solid waste facilities, made recommendations where necessary and cited if schools are in breach of any rules.

 

Additionally, in an effort to eliminate the spread of the dengue virus across the island, the Ministry of Health, through the National Health Fund (NHF), will be spending $130 million on activities geared towards clearing breeding sites of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

 

For this initiative, the Ministry will be collaborating with the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) and the Parish Councils, through the Local Government Ministry.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (right), addresses journalists at the Ministry’s Quarterly Press Briefing, held on Tuesday (August 27), at the Ministry’s head office in New Kingston. With the Minister is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dunston Bryan.