Topic: Controlling Biting-Insect Populations
Country: Trinidad and Tobago
Delegate Name: Ana Kim
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Trinidad and Tobago position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
Biting-Insect is an issue that remains as a great problem in many different countries. These insects, also referred to as vectors, are capable of transmitting infectious diseases and are the ones to blame for the spreading of deadly diseases like the dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever. They are accountable for more than 7% of all infectious diseases, resulting in the death of more than one million a year. Vector control is an important issue for Trinidad and Tobago as cases of malaria are continuously being reported. Many of the cases trace back to mosquito breeding which is found in barrels of stored water in areas where piped water is scarce.
According to the World Health Organization, a child dies every minute from malaria. By wiping out the mosquito population, we would be able to save around 207 million people every year from suffering and even death. But because the ecological role of mosquitoes are not entirely known, the uncertainty that accompanies the benefits of eliminating the whole population does not present the best solution. So instead of wiping out the entire population, it is crucial that research is heavily emphasized for the creation of new vaccinations, and meanwhile, to educate the citizens of ways to protect themselves and alternate ways of prevention. Along with education, it would be imperative to send along supplies to assist with the prevention as well as strategies that will further encourage prevention, such as residual spray, chemicals to treat the water, and treating patients with proper care and medications.
