Addition to cleanup story

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller yesterday issued a fresh appeal for Jamaicans to get involved in the community clean-ups now under way as part of an effort to minimise the spread of the chikungunya virus.

With commercial partner, Digicel, and other entities providing support, Simpson Miller led the charge to clean up the community of Payne Land in the South West St Andrew constituency which she represents.

"I hope that we will not only have the community clean up today, but that members of the community will ensure that their surroundings are clean and beautiful for the safety of everyone," declared Simpson Miller.

"This won't be a one-day effort, but we hope to have community consultation sessions with the people and get professionals from the Ministry of Health to talk to them about the importance of keeping the community clean," added Simpson Miller.

"And so, I think it is important not for this one day, but to keep the communities informed and to have consultations and dialogue with the people of the community and engage in keeping the communities in a clean manner."

best way moving forward

Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson, who yesterday admitted that the Government was slow in its response to the chick-V outbreak agreed with the prime minister that the clean up of the communities is the best way moving forward.

"What we have done is in keeping with the protocol of the World Health Organisation and Pan American Health Organisation. Though we knew Jamaica was a virgin territory, we could not have estimated what would have been the work coming forward, but now when persons feel the gravity of the situation you could have got a response," said Ferguson as he expressed satisfaction with the response to the clean-up call.

"I am very happy that the prime minister has led by example and started the process in Kingston and St Andrew and this is the start of a great process."

In the meantime, Trisha Williams-Singh, senior corporate relations manager at Digicel, declared that the partnership with the Government will not only involve community clean-ups, but also educating and updating the public on controlling the virus.

"We have partnered with the Government and will be focusing on the areas that are, and will be, most affected. We have also agreed to send out text messages as a part of the partnership to educate Jamaicans as we at Digicel are doing our part to minimise the risk associated with the virus," said Williams-Singh.

Fellow telecommunications provider LIME, also launched its clean-up campaign last week as part of efforts to stem the chik-V outbreak.

LIME CEO Gary Sinclair stressed the need for strong corporate leadership as the virus continues to impact national welfare and productivity.

"Our company is naturally concerned about the quality of our customers' and indeed all Jamaican lives. We'll therefore do whatever it takes to ensure the safest possible environment for all of our citizens," he said.

According to Sinclair LIME intends to use technology and its vast telecommunications platform to facilitate wide-scale sharing of public health information.