A breeding site for the Anopheles mosquito, the vector for the malaria disease, in Denham Town, west Kingston, earlier this month. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

The Ministry of Health has received a total of 1,000 mosquito nets from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to assist in its efforts to quell the malaria outbreak.

Director of Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Marion Bullock-Ducasse, noted that the nets are part of a shipment of 3,000 from the UN agency, the rest of which should arrive by the end of the year.

The nets are dissimilar to regular mosquito nets as they are equipped with a small amount of insecticide. The insecticide is safe for close contact with humans, but kills mosquitoes or deters them from feasting on human blood.

Distribution

Dr. Bullock-Ducasse said 500 of the nets would be handed over to the Kingston and St. Andrew Public Health Department for distribution to affected communities.

"Persons who are suspected to have malaria, and others who have been confirmed as having the disease, will be given top priority when the health team commences distributing the nets," she said.

Dr. Bullock-Ducasse also said the Health Ministry would be seeking the assistance of the Members of Parliament, councillors and community leaders in distributing the remainder of the current shipment of nets in the affected areas.

In addition to distributing the nets, Dr. Bullock-Ducasse said, 6,000 containers of insect repellents would also be given to communities in the affected areas.

Careful use

Acting Chief Medical Officer Sheila Campbell-Forrester has urged persons to use the nets correctly.

"We encourage persons not to sleep on the nets. Make sure that the net is not touching the skin," she advised.

She further implored persons to take responsibility for their health. "No matter where you move to in Jamaica, you are going to have mosquitoes at this time, and they carry diseases such as dengue fever and malaria, so the same precautions apply whether you are on the bus, street or at a family gathering," she said.

The precautions include wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, light-coloured clothing and using insect repellent.