Fighting Zika with music in the Caribbean
New song by Darryl Gervais, of Trinidad and Tobago, urges everyone: “Do Your Part” to fight Zika-carrying mosquitoes
Washington, D.C., 25 October 2016 (PAHO/WHO) — Trinidadian singer-songwriter Darryl Gervais has recorded a new song for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to raise awareness in the Caribbean about the need to fight Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that carries Zika, chikungunya, dengue, and other arboviruses.
The song, Do Your Part, serves as a musical public service announcement (PSA) set to an electro-Caribbean melody. It warns listeners that “there’s a danger in our region causing problems that can affect us all” and says, “We’ve got to come together as one” to eradicate Aedes aegypti. Some “good things to do” to fight the mosquito are to safely discard containers that can collect water, make sure drains are free flowing, and use bed nets at night as well as in the daytime.
“We’re urging everyone to do their part today, because together we can make it better,” Gervais sings.
The song will be broadcast by 112 media outlets in 24 Caribbean countries as part of LIVE UP: The Caribbean Media Alliance, a multiplatform public service campaign that seeks to inspire audiences—especially young people—to make healthy life choices and to play an active role in stemming the spread of HIV, reducing stigma and discrimination, and promoting love, respect, and protection in their communities.
Arboviruses, especially Zika and chikungunya, have been a major public health problem in the Caribbean in recent years. The main vector for these viruses has been the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is widely distributed in both the Caribbean and Latin America. Aedes mosquitoes bite primarily in the morning and at dusk, but also at other times of the day. The mosquito is well adapted to human settlements and prefers to breed in water in manmade containers, such as discarded cans and tires. Effectively controlling the mosquito requires action on the part of individuals, families and communities to eliminate breeding sites.
Darryl Gervais is a seven-time Caribbean Marlin Awards nominee who is known for his “positive” music that seeks to, in his own words, “uplift, inspire, encourage and bring hope.” His previous songs include Never Give Up, Unconditional Love, and Feel Good Anthem.
