Manpower and Maintenance Services Limited to host seminar on dengue fever

IN LIGHT of the dengue fever outbreak now being experienced in the island, Manpower and Maintenance Services Ltd (MMS), Caribbean health management consultants, will host a seminar themed ‘Mosquito Borne Diseases: Dengue Fever and its Impact on the Workforce and Communities’ on Tuesday, February 19, at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston.

The seminar, which is also sponsored by H&L Agro, will be opened by Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton and is accessible to both clients of the company and members of the public. It will seek to heighten awareness about diseases associated with the mosquito, with a focus on dengue fever.

“Given the nature of our business, we see it as part of our responsibility to help to spread the word and change attitudes and behaviours concerning these diseases, which are directly related to how we dispose of waste and manage the environment in which we live,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MMS, Audrey Hinchcliffe.

PEST CONTROL

“Because we have become accustomed to having mosquitoes around, and despite our experience with chik-V and the Zika virus, many persons still do not understand that mosquitoes are deadly pests and that we can and should do much more to control their numbers in our homes and communities,” Hinchcliffe said.

The seminar will include presentations from several experts on a wide cross section of areas on topics such as The Epidemiology of Dengue Fever; Diagnosis and Treatment Protocols; Infection Control; Decreasing Exposure: Pest Management and Control; Impact on Worker and Community Productivity; Mitigation Strategies; and Resource Requirements. A panel discussion will explore the disease’s impact on communities and sectors of the economy, including tourism.

Registration for the seminar is now open to clients of the company and the public until February 14 for a fee. Interested persons are invited to call MMS at 876-9204721 to register.