Please Consider Donating To This GoFundMe To Help The British Virgin Islands With Mosquito Control

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http://gofundme.com/BVIMosquitoControl

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Please consider donating to the Gofundme campaign above or upvoting this post. All proceeds from this blog will be donated to the campaign. Below is the text from the actual fundraiser. Thank you in advance.

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On September 6, 2017 the British Virgin Islands were hit by Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm that destroyed the territory beyond recognition and left tens of thousands without permanent shelter.

The Hurricane defoliation of the islands and its associated rain left standing water throughout the territory. Within seven days, standing water, left untreated, breeds Mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes pose a dangerous human health hazard in the spread of diseases, such as: Zika, Malaria, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever and Dengue.

Many of the residences on the islands have been damaged, leaving the occupants exposed to severe inundation of mosquitoes, putting them at great risk of contracting an illness, not to mention the incessant biting.

The storm not only destroyed houses and buildings, but also equipment and supplies used by Government agencies, essential to their daily operations.

One of these departments, Disaster Management (BVIDDM), lost most of their pest control equipment in the storm, leaving them with little ability to combat the current plague of mosquitoes, that have bloomed in these favorable conditions.

The Goal of this GoFundMe is to raise money to replace equipment and chemical in the effort of eradicating the adult mosquito population and for preventative maintenance in the near future. All funds collected will be spent on equipment and chemical for the BVIDDM’s mosquito program.

The first funds that this campaign generates will be used to purchase insect repellent for the people on the islands. They have requested two specific brands that seem to have the most effect. Our first priority is to protect the residents while they rebuild.

Due to the rugged terrain of the islands, multiple formats will be needed to provide coverage for the islands. They will need a truck, an ATV, applicators for both vehicles, plus hand-held applicators and safety equipment. They will also need larvacide briquettes and donuts.(Wish list at the bottom)

After ‘knocking down’ the current infestation with multiple applications of adulticide, the BVIDDM will be able to do regular maintenance with larvacide briquettes/donuts that can minimize the threat of another mosquito bloom.

Our story. My wife is Registered Environmental Health Specialist who works for a county government in New Jersey. She has background working for a mosquito commission during her college years. She has access to experts in the field who have advised us as to what products would be most effective and least environmentally impactful.

Prior to entering college, she lived in the BVI’s for an extended period of time. That period of her life left an indelible imprint on her and she is not able to sit back and watch the residents of the islands she loves, suffer through the recovery process. She also remembers the mosquitoes and her own bout with Dengue Fever!

Through Facebook, she joined a BVI support group that has grown to nearly 35,000 people. On the group page she kept seeing a recurring theme, the mosquitoes had gotten out of control.

By being active on the BVI Facebook page, she has made numerous contacts with government agents that asked her to apply her knowledge and her professional colleagues’ knowledge to find an appropriate solution to the mosquito problem.

The catch, the administration has no extra money for this project. Understandably, everyone’s charitable budget is being stretched thin with all of the Hurricane devastation throughout the Caribbean and the U.S. mainland this season.

This cause is unique, in that a specific need has been identified and its solution is possible.

For a Territory who’s economy revolves around Tourism, being able to offer an environment with limited mosquitoes is essential for the health, safety and enjoyment of visitors and residents alike.

Please take a moment and help out this cause, which has a clearly identifiable problem and a definite solution.

Thank you – Matt & Lee Lloyd

*We as yet do not have final pricing & shipping amounts for the items on the following list, the dollar amounts will be added shortly.

Below is the 'Beg List' for needed mosquito and pest control supplies as per the Ministry of Health & Social Development:

Vector Control Need List

Post Hurricane Irma – September 6, 2017

September 18, 2017

• Rentokil Antimalarial Oil (MSDS Attached) 6 drums
  Salva/Infusive Management
• Hand held London Foggers 8 Chemical Unlimited/TIFA
• Abate 40 bags Salva
• Tires for the VG Vector Control truck – 265/65R17 2
• Vehicle mounted London Foggers Cold 4 Thermal 4
• Chemical Unlimited/TIFA
• Insecticide 165 gallons plastic containers preferred
• Rodenticide (Klerat – MSDS Attached) 100lbs Salva
• Chemrez 20 gallons TIFA
• Spray Pumps (back – pack) 8
• BTI 24 Clarke Mosquito
• Altosids 3 cases Clarke Mosquito
• 4 X 4, 4 door pick up trucks 8 Toyota, Nissan

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