Below is an update on the progress of the health sector recovery post-Hurricane Melissa from the Ministry of Health & Wellness.

FIELD HOSPTIAL IN SAVANNA-LA-MAR

A Field Hospital, courtesy of the Government of Barbados is now in operation on the grounds of the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital. This facility is staffed by approximately 70 medical and technical team members and accommodates 40 in-patient beds. Members of the public can access health services from various units including, A&E, X-ray, Obstetrics and Gynaecology (including delivery suite), Surgical suite, High-Dependency Unit, Laboratory Services and Pharmacy.

LEPTOSPIROSIS

The country now has on record 71 suspected/probable/confirmed cases of Leptospirosis after the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Of that number, 26 are confirmed cases. Regrettably there have been 12 deaths, of which seven deaths were confirmed as Leptospirosis-related.

The Ministry is continuing its management of the disease across the island and is giving special attention to St. James (15), St. Ann (12) and St. Elizabeth (8), which have the highest number of suspected/probable/confirmed cases.

The public is reminded that leptospirosis is preventable, treatable, and survivable, if detected early and taken seriously. The advisory is to wear protective gear during clean-up; avoid floodwater; secure food and water supplies and keep the environment clean.

There are no other communicable diseases that are of concern currently, with Dengue and Influenza remaining below the threshold and below the normal numbers for this time of year.

STAFF WELFARE PROGRAMME

The Ministry has activated its staff welfare initiative to support the more than 2,000 healthcare workers, who were affected by the hurricane. Already, through the regional health authorities, the Ministry has distributed care packages to staff members and recently held a webinar with the National Housing Trust (NHT) to explore the benefits available to healthcare workers.

On Friday (December 5) the Ministry, in collaboration with the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) will host the first in a series of Healthcare Workers Support Fair, which will feature several Government entities, offering document replacement services to healthcare workers. The cost of the replacement service is being financed by the Ministry. The service entities including Tax Administration of Jamaica (TAJ), Passport Immigration & Citizenship Agency (PICA) and the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) will be at the Newell Health Centre in St. Elizabeth processing applications for healthcare workers from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.