Dominica has declared Thursday 18 February 2016 as National Clean-Up Day as part of efforts to take proactive measures against mosquito breeding.
During National Cleanup Day, citizens are encouraged to get rid of old white goods and materials that may be potential breeding places out for collection.
This is part of the Ministry of Health and the Environment’s clean-up and public education campaign against Zika virus.
Zika virus is a disease transmitted via the bite of an aedes aegypti mosquito. The main symptoms of the virus are rash, mild fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, weakness and pain behind the eyes.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says the fight against any mosquito borne disease is a country wide action for which every citizen has a part to play.
Mr Skerrit has therefore advised citizen to monitor their surroundings for mosquito breeding sites.
“There continues to be indiscriminate dumping of refuse; bottles and tins, all of which collect water and eventually becomes breeding places for mosquitoes,” he said.
“We have flower vases in our homes we do not change the water on a regular basis, we have receptacles; like drums and so forth, that collect water, the water becomes stagnant and a breeding place for mosquitoes,” Mr Skerrit continued.
The Prime Minister noted that citizens must also visit cemeteries, especially the Roman Catholic cemeteries, to ensure that candle holders and tins are not contributing to mosquito breeding sites.
He urged those who participated in the Roman Catholic All Saints celebration, who may have lighted candles on graves, to return and turn the bottles upside down and bore holes in the tins so that they do not become mosquito breeding sites.
Mr Skerrit added; “we should not wait when the threat of these diseases are upon us to take action, but we have to continue with the education of those diseases and remain proactive”.