More doctors are coming to Barbados to assist in the COVID-19 fight.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, in an address to the nation yesterday evening from Ilaro Court, said chairman of Cabinet’s COVID-19 Sub-committee, Senator Dr Jerome Walcott, had been in discussions with several foreign governments the past couple of days.
“We have been in contact with the Cuban government and we have requested a number of additional doctors and specialists – two communicable disease specialists, two respiratory disease specialists, two intensive care specialists, two anaesthesiologists and a respiratory therapist.”
She added that four English-speaking lab technicians would be attached to the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory for extra hands.
Committed to sending virologist
“Minister of Health [Jeffrey] Bostic has been in contact with the Pan American Health Organisation, who have committed to sending in short order a virologist to train persons to be able to ensure that we can provide respite for those who are working exceptionally long hours at the lab.”
The Prime Minister said the numbers were small in terms of qualified and trained personnel so they did not have the resources to “double up and triple up”.
The country already has more than 100 Cuban medical personnel who were brought in last year during the pandemic.
Mottley also revealed that Government purchased a mobile lab from the Chinese and it was just a matter of the logistics of getting it here.
It will be fully equipped with personnel and robotics, she said. (NS)
