Course Project Discussion
dynesha11
WK7ProjLewisD.pptxYellow Fever in Paraguay
Dynesha Lewis
Amany Refaat
PUBH 6129
04/14/2019
1
The Vulnerable Population in Paraguay
Non-vaccinated Paraguayans are more vulnerable than vaccinated Paraguayans.
Geographical factors influence vulnerability. Individuals living in mosquito-infested regions are more vulnerable as the disease is spread through mosquito bites.
Age makes individuals more vulnerable. Children below the age of 7 and older individuals over 65 years of age are twice likely to die from Yellow fever (Vasconcelos, 2018).
2
Continued….
Genetics also influence vulnerability. Caucasians are 7-times likely to die from Yellow Fever due to certain aspects of their immune system (Vasconcelos, 2018).
Life style also predisposes an individual. Travelling to regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and Central America predisposes a person to the disease (Yellow fever in Paraguay, 2018). These regions predisposes a person to contracting Yellow Fever.
Health Communication Strategies
The Paraguayan Ministry of Health has each year coordinated vaccinations against Yellow Fever. This is usually done at the local level (Yellow fever in Paraguay, 2018).
The public is sensitized about the need for vaccination by the ministry.
The ministry has also been overseeing that individuals getting into the country are vaccinated against Yellow Fever two weeks before entering it (Yellow fever in Paraguay, 2018).
Continued….
The Paraguayan Red Cross (PRC) has also been responding and sensitizing the public about Yellow Fever.
It has also provided individuals in high risk areas which safety nets against mosquitoes (Yellow fever in Paraguay, 2018).
It has established regional offices where any cases and developments are reported and acted on.
Evidence of Effectiveness
The first case broke out in 2008 and there were 28 reported cases in the same year.
By 2014, the country was declared formally free of the endemic disease.
The progress was attributed to the public sensitization by the Paraguayan Ministry of Health and Paraguayan Red Cross.
Continued…
For the long-term, more parties need to be involved. The Paraguayan ministry of health and the Red Cross need to employ modern communication strategies.
Owing to the fact that the country has a population of slightly more than 5million people, mobile communication and creation of an online resource center can be more helpful.
The public will have an access to resourceful information to act on.
References
Vasconcelos, P. (2018). Yellow fever. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 73(1), 79-91.
Yellow fever in Paraguay. (2018, June 21). Retrieved from World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/ith/updates/2008_02_24/en/
