Christopher Serju- A steady hand, keen eye, and cool head are the attributes displayed by this backhoe operator while cleaning a drain in Naggo Head, Portmore, in St Catherine recently. The annual drain, cleaning, which was implemented in keeping with the Atlantic Hurricane season has taken on greater urgency in light of the spread of chikungunya.
Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson had further discussions Monday morning with Commissioner of Police Carl Williams about the roles and responsibilities of the Jamaica Constabulary Force in implementing the National Ebola Preparedness and Response Strategy.
Ferguson indicated that while the Ministry of Health was leading the process, it was working closely with other agencies including the Jamaica Constabulary Force as part of the road map that specifies a three pronged approach to the response.
"This approach includes border security, health management and public education. Some of the areas of collaboration, which involves the JCF, is considerations for security of health facilities, Ebola treatment centres, isolation units and the patient transfer teams. The JCF would also assist with the general security of communities and burial sites if the country has to deal with a case of Ebola," Ferguson explained.
Ferguson added that the ministry was in the process of developing protocols to outline the specific role of the JCF at various levels of operation. Additional, training will also be undertaken for JCF members who may be frontline workers and first responders.
On October 17, 2014, the Ministry of Health conducted training of more than 40 police personnel including members of the High Command, the JCF's Medical Unit, and police inspectors from across the Caribbean.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse also gave a technical update on the Ebola situation globally and Jamaica's preparedness to the commissioner and his team.
No comments:
Post a Comment