Government is holding fast to siting the Isolation Centre at the Enmore Complex, Lower Collymore Rock, St Michael, but has now decided it will be temporary and only for Ebola and no other infectious diseases.
This was revealed yesterday by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Tennyson Springer, who indicated that despite objections from staff and parents of children at three schools close to the facility, it is now fully staffed, equipped and open to handle cases of the deadly Ebola virus.
Speaking on the sidelines of a hurriedly convened PAHO/WHO Sub-regional Risk Communication Training Workshop for Caribbean Countries/Territories at the Crane Resort and Residences, St Philip, Springer confirmed that Government had met the promised deadline of November 1, to have the centre prepared.
He also expressed “satisfaction” with the state of readiness, noting that the physical work had been completed and equipment installed, while there was a dedicated staff of about 40 – mostly from the ministry and state agencies.
At a raucous town hall-style meeting with ministry officials on October 16 at the Ursuline Convent School (UCS), staff, parents and guardians of the UCS, along with others from the St Gabriel’s and The St Michael School, raised vociferous objections to the location of the unit which initially was to cover any outbreaks and/or the spread of infectious diseases generally, including Ebola.
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