My thoughts…on stuff

My thoughts on…the malaria outbreak in Jamaica

December 8th 2006 -

By now you’ve heard about the malaria outbreak in Jamaica. That is, if you’re Jamaican or someone that keeps in touch with goings on over here. When I heard about it, I was shocked. Malaria? That disease still exists? I thought we wiped that out along with smallpox and the Plague! According to Wikipedia, malaria is a disease found mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa and improverished nations. Great. Things were bad enough. Now Jamaica falls into that category. And the funny thing is most people infected with malaria are too poor to afford the antimalarial drugs. Life’s unfair isn’t it?

Turns out the main breeding site for the Anopheles mosquito, the carrier of the disease, was an open drain along Spanish Town Road. And I’m hearing that the goverment knew about it but did nothing. Hmm. The country is suffering because of the Government’s negligence…again. I tell you, they’ve turned closing the gate after the horse has gone through into a science. The Government has approved $30.2 million to solve the problem, and the UN has offered to help. Well how gracious of them! I hate when these foreign agencies give us a hand. Don’t get me wrong, the help is appreciated. But it hinders us from learning to solve problems ourselves.

People are lining up from all over the island to get tested, at a hefty price of $900 each. I wonder if that’s why they’re trying to scare people so much, to make money off their fears. Nah. Politicians are real snakes, but I don’t think even they would go that far. I don’t see what the big fuss is about. I’d worry if it were ebola or anthrax. But not malaria. I’ll just sleep with a mosquito net and “fughetaboutit.”

Related Posts:

1. My thoughts on…Jamaica’s new tsunami warning system
2. My thoughts on…Jamaica after the Olympics
3. My thoughts on…the recent spate of kidnappings in Jamaica
4. My thoughts on…Jamaica’s new "crime capital" status
5. My thoughts on…the tattoo craze sweeping Jamaica

6 Responses on “My thoughts on…the malaria outbreak in Jamaica”

1. 
   Stunner Says:
   December 9th, 2006 at 12:50 am

   Typical behavior for the Jamaican government. And it’s the worse time for such an outbreak, just as the winter tourist season is about to start. I just hope there is some remote chance they can contain it an eradicate it…again, before it’s too late.

2. 
   Abeni Says:
   December 9th, 2006 at 8:21 am

   So surprising to hear of malaria in this day and age.Gross neglect somewhere

3. 
   cool destiny Says:
   December 9th, 2006 at 11:45 am

   I’m so disgusted with the Gov’t it’s not funny. They just can’t seem to get anything right. The Minister of Health stood in the house and chatted a bunch of s*&% about only 21 cases! of malaria so far. Thats 21 too many.

   Bwoy, when election a call? Time fi a change!!

4. 
   Shotta M Says:
   December 9th, 2006 at 3:35 pm

   As people are thinking about World Cup cricket the news about malaria could cause problems.

5. 
   Dr. D. Says:
   December 11th, 2006 at 3:20 pm

   I think they should manage to contain the outbreak.

   It most likely is a direct consequence of becoming rather negligent in the area of mosquito control. (Same way dem doh bodda to clear drains and gullies until the hurricane is well developed inna de Alantic!) ‘Last minute mek me look like me a do suppem’ politics! Aaah bwoy. Poor us.

6. 
   fireflyky Says:
   December 15th, 2006 at 10:41 am

   Man, I remember the same emotions back around 1980 when we had an outbreak of Polio in JA. That is supposed to be some historic disease, not something I have to worry about! But we all got the vaccine, and an important life lesson.

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