Public Health seeks to prevent dengue and leptospirosis that usually spread after the passage of a hurricane

The Minister of Public Health, Daniel Rivera, instructed this Monday all the Provincial Directorates and Health Areas (DPS/DAS) to supervise the shelters, mainly in the areas most affected by Hurricane Fiona, and verify that the sanitary conditions are adequate in order to prevent diseases.

In a virtual meeting with his technical team, deputy ministers, provincial and health area directors, as well as risk management and epidemiology technicians, Rivera stressed the need to protect the people sheltered, providing them with the necessary services, drinking water, food and supplying them with the medicines they require.

“Mainly see children, elderly and people with chronic diseases, verify that the drinking water is adequate, because the first manifestation in these cases is gastroenteritis, also see the bathrooms and general cleanliness,” said Rivera.

He indicated that people who have been exposed to cross rivers and puddles should be watched to prevent them from leptospirosis and other diseases.

Rivera asked to maintain the supervision of these spaces where people are staying and their health conditions, to take COVID-19 samples if necessary, to take the required medicines, and to keep in contact with the rectory for any situation.

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The minister explained that a general diagnosis is being made in the most affected provinces and urged the Health personnel to spare no effort to take care of this population and that they will remain in permanent session monitoring the sanitary conditions in the areas affected by Hurricane Fiona.

Shelters
At the meeting, the provincial directors of La Altagracia, La Romana, Hato Mayor, El Seibo, Monte Plata, and Samaná, among other localities, presented an overview of the situation, where they explained the work they are coordinating to guarantee sanitary conditions and to monitor any diseases that may arise.

In Higüey, 80 persons have been identified and have received assistance, with no report of deaths. The hospitals are functioning and, except for power outages, have not had any major setbacks, explained the provincial director of Health.

In Samaná, 28 shelters have been identified, 19 vulnerable neighborhoods, and 54 people are sheltered, with medicines and supplies to be used if necessary.

Hato Mayor has the largest number of people in shelters, some 234, for whom some items such as mosquito nets are being provided to avoid bites and, therefore, cases of dengue fever.

The DPSs are carrying out tours together with the Civil Defense and other relief agencies.

Some reported inconveniences, such as power failure due to downed power lines, floods, and fallen trees blocking the roads, among other situations.

Dr. Rivera was accompanied at the meeting by Deputy Ministers Eladio Pérez of Collective Health; Fernando Ureña, Deputy Minister of the Coordinating Office of the Decentralized Management of the Rectory; Robinson Santos, Director of the Health Cabinet; Gina Estrella, Director of Risk Management; Ronald Skewes, Director of Epidemiology, among other officials of the Ministry and representatives of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in the country.