The Central Board of Health (CBH) has launched a major drive to tackle the island’s rodent problem with its 2025 “WANTED DEAD—NOT ALIVE” Anti-Rodent Campaign.
The initiative, led by the CBH’s Vector Control Unit, begins on Monday, 8 September, with the first phase running until 31 October. Trapping and collection exercises will take place across five priority communities: St John’s City, Gray’s Farm, Browne’s Avenue, St Johnson’s Village and Potters Village.
Health officials say the campaign aims to raise awareness of the health risks linked to rodents, promote preventive action by residents, reduce populations in high-risk areas, and curb the spread of rodent-borne diseases through better sanitation.
“Community participation is essential,” the CBH said in a statement, urging residents and businesses to keep their premises clean, store waste securely and cooperate with field officers.
A second phase in November will focus on public education, including workshops and outreach activities to deepen community engagement.
Officials stressed that the campaign’s success will depend on residents’ active involvement and their commitment to maintaining cleaner neighbourhoods.
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Quite a timely and welcome intervention to rid our communities of these obnoxious creatures. It’s quite common to see some almost as big as cats roaming the streets of St. John’s at night.
Truly a timely intervention and was needed like yesterday. One cannot miss the unsightly spectacle of rats, some as big as mongoose roaming the city gutters especially at nights. The effort to rid the city and suburbs of them must be ongoing. They are both hideous, horrendous and dreadful and sends all the wrong signals to tourists and citizens visiting the city. Just a few months ago I witnessed a tourist showing another one three rats playfully moving in an out of an open gutter. I was a little embarrassed so I walked fast.
Great initiative! But can we honestly and truly eradicate this rodent infestation in a country such as this? In the first place too many bushes and abundant structures, every village needs about two of those large Dump truck containers stationed at specific spots where residents can easily dispose their garbage, along with the continued daily pick up routine of CBH, we would then need a huge manpower on a daily basis going around this country inspecting, setting and removing traps of a more scientific built structure.
I do hope CBH understand this is not a three months on and off campaign, this must go on for years and in itself may require a special budget.
Yes it can be embarrassing as a resident seeing tourist pointing at rats, but I guarantee most of these tourists have seen worst and possibly reside amongst some of the same problems we have here, as far as rats and roaches goes.
Yes the business population in and around town needs to do better, but the infrastructure of the city itself is a heaven for these rodents to live and multiply.
By the way is it me or some of these rats are extremely smart? I remembered as a kid we had one we called “Ben” cause it seems like he was the ruler of the pack and he managed to avoid all traps and poison that was laid out
A little too late. I have been fighting with CBH for months to gain support. I ended up spending thousands, taking matters into my own hands to rid the creatures. Let’s see if they start cleaning up the road gutters which I have been begging for.
This is an awesome and much needed endeavor. People must be cognizant that rats are truly nasty and carry myriad diseases and the importance of eradicating them. I hope the communities engage in the workshops and take whatever measures necessary to effectively deal with this pest. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
They’ve been living under the Communities in their own communities for centuries. You will never eradicate the rodents.
“Chiney man food mek RATTA get fat”
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