Unite to fight

BARBADOS’ COVID-19 response will be a given a boost with the arrival of 100 nurses from the Republic of Cuba to give support to local medical teams.

Yesterday Minister of Health and Wellness Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic revealed that not only should the team of intensive care specialists have arrived yesterday (Sunday) from Cuba, a team of local health professionals have also come together to volunteer their services.

Minister Bostic told the media during a live broadcast that the team from Cuba is expected to give support to local medical professionals on the frontline, many of whom have been working gruelling hours under demanding circumstances. “We thank the government and people from the Republic of Cuba for their support to Barbados in this time of great demand for their medical services worldwide.

“A significant number of medical practitioners and other medical professionals have stepped forward to offer their services to the government and people of Barbados and will form a volunteer corps in support of the country’s effort to continue to provide the best medical care not only for those infected by COVID 19, but for the range of medical services that will continue to be delivered for our people.”

Minister Bostic explained that the Cuban nurses have been tested for COVID-19 in Cuba and will be tested in Barbados. “Those nurses, fortunately are not required for immediate service because the Harrison’s Point facility in particular is still in the process of being outfitted with the necessary equipment. So we have adequate time to be able to deal.”

Earlier in the press briefing, Minister Bostic revealed that the new medical facility at Harrison’s Point, which has been converted to a 220-bed hospital for the treatment of COVID 19 patients, will be handed over by the contractors to the Ministry of Health and Wellness today.

“We will immediately begin the process of outfitting the facility with the required medical equipment so that it can be pressed into service in the shortest possible time. This will now provide us with an additional 38 beds with ventilation capacity, and 182 isolation beds for critical care and treatment of COVID 19 patients.”

The Minister highlighted the need to have health care professionals, both private or private, on board to ensure that there is an expanded response when needed. He also called for more Barbadians to volunteer of their time.

“We are looking for more than medical personnel. There is a role for each and every Barbadian in this fight, this is a national fight. A national effort. We need people to be able to help to distribute food, to do various things and whoever is willing we will find a role for you because we are all in this together,” he said. (JH)