Ministry Warns Against Contact With Contaminated Floodwaters Amid Health Risks

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is advising residents to refrain from coming in contact with floodwaters. Over the past few days, water from drains, canals, and rivers has risen in yards and streets across the country. The situation often results in young children playing in the water, but such actions pose a serious risk to your health. Today, Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard spoke about his ministry’s efforts to educate the public and reach out to impacted communities. 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “I want to encourage those persons who are in flood areas. I know I have that in my own constituency in Carmelita, where there is water rising. I know in the further north, in the Orange Walk North constituency we have studies done in the Douglas area and so where there was latrines already overflowing. So the Ministry of Health has been on the ground at every area, every part of the country, doing assessments. I just saw an email that came in to me last night. I haven’t read it completely yet, but I know there is assessment that was done and strategies that are being put in place to address those issues because of course, as you know, flooding brings diseases and so we want to encourage people to stay away from floodwaters. Don’t be around in….I said to my wife just yesterday when we were driving down the road, you know, look at the children bathing in these waters. It’s difficult. And so I encourage our people to ensure that we stay away from these things because it can become hazardous to our health. And so the ministry is doing its part, working closely with NEMO because you know we are all part of the NEMO program too and so we have been on the ground, our public health inspectors and our vector people have been on the ground making sure they are doing their assessments where there is water catchment or water staying in land under the homes, in homes and so we are working closely with NEMO to ensure that we are doing our part as the public health side to ensure that we are protecting our citizens as well.”