GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, would like to wish visitors for the 36th edition of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta a safe and healthy fulfilled event.
Recently officials from CPS exchanged information with representatives of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta regarding methodology to remind and share preventive information to the public and visitors on infectious diseases as part of the ministries efforts to step up prevention efforts.
The outcome of this exchange led to the printing of 300 flyers that were provided to the coordinator of the Heineken Regatta to be distributed to skippers of the various boats and all participating in the regatta during registration.
The flyer contains preventive health tips and suggestions for the participants requesting them to stay healthy while enjoying four-days of regatta.
This was the second year that such a collaborative effort between CPS, Department of Communication (DCOMM), the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority, and St. Maarten Heineken Regatta took place. As prevention requires the involvement and participation of all in mitigating communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases.
The flyer requests, visitors, sailors, and volunteers to stay healthy during their visit to St. Maarten, and to prevent any possible infectious disease.
“We ask that you be attentive as it relates to the following symptoms which can be attributed to one of the following infectious conditions such as Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, and Gastroenteritis disease.
“If you have any of the following symptoms such as:
• Fever; Diarrhea, Body pains; Vomiting; Conjunctivitis; Headaches, Joint Pains; Rash
• If yes, please contact a physician; minimize personal contact; implement proper cough etiquette, hand and personal hygiene.
If you are coughing use proper cough etiquette, cough in the elbow, sneeze or blow your nose in a disposable tissue and put such in the garbage bin. Wash or sanitize your hands immediately after discarding the used tissue.
Frequently wash/sanitize your hands properly especially after using the toilet and working with your hands. Before you eat or put food in your mouth, make sure your hands are clean.
Properly use repellent to stop mosquitoes from feeding; at dusk and dawn use proper light colored clothing such as long sleeves and long pants.
Don’t Drink and Drive, and have safe sex – properly use a condom!
Properly wear gloves for handling food and cleaning up after a sick person or in general
Be Safe, Be Healthy & Have Serious Fun”
