assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impact

Environmental Health
In the area of environmental health focus was placed on the priority areas of water quality
control monitoring, food safety, vector control and environmental sanitation. Monitoring
continued at water supply points, treatment plants and at distribution points with water quality
improving as electricity returned to plants and turbidity improved. Up to ten days after the event
food safety inspections led to 90,000 kg of meat, 8,300 kg of ice cream, 300 kg milk and 220kg
of patties being seized and condemned islandwide.
Comprehensive programmes for mosquitoes, flies and rodents were implemented in all parishes,
focusing on the worst affected areas. Source reduction, larvicidal work (oiling and placement of
larvicidal agents and fish in pools of water) and fogging were the priorities.
Environmental Sanitation: A total of 328 latrines were destroyed and thirty one (31) damaged
in five (5) parishes. All 359 will need to be replaced. In addition accumulation of solid waste
islandwide required special interventions in collaboration with the NSWMA to prevent the
breeding of vectors.
Veterinary Public Health: After the event, the Health Departments were required to dispose
of/monitor the disposal of dead animals and over 50,000 birds in the parishes of Kingston, St.
Andrew and St. Catherine.
Special Service Delivery: The delivery of special services such as blood transfusion and public
health laboratory services were generally uninterrupted although only partial services were being
offered at the Government Chemist facilities due to insufficient power supply.
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