Bullock-DuCasse

The Ministry of Health, yesterday received 2,000 mosquito nets from the United Nation's Development Programme to prevent further transmission of malaria in the affected areas.

This brings to 3,000 the total number of mosquito nets donated to the ministry's malaria prevention and control efforts.

Last week, the United Nations Children's Fund donated 1,000 mosquito nets for children in the affected communities of Denham Town, Trench Town, Delacree Park and Tivoli Gardens.

"The support received from our local and international partners since the start of the outbreak has been excellent," Dr. Marion Bullock-DuCasse, director of emergency services, in the Health Ministry, said yesterday.

Among the households to benefit from the latest donation of mosquito nets are some of the 3,609 households visited in the past two weeks.

Dr. Bullock-DuCasse said the nets were to be used along with precautionary measures such as wearing appropriate light-coloured clothing that covers the body. She also said the application of insect repellent containing the chemical DEET remains important.

Up to Tuesday, the number of confirmed malaria cases was 163.