Full support needed to battle spread of diseases

With diseases and illnesses no longer contained by borders, infectious control prevention programmes must be fully funded. 

 

Pointing to the spread of Swine Flu, Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika across various countries in recent years, Head of the Infection Control Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Dr. Corey Forde said vigilance and preparation are key in ensuring that the region is ready to contain the spread of such diseases.

 

“What is next on our doorsteps we do not know, but it is up to us to remain vigilant and be prepared in using every single facet of our medical knowledge and our resources available to achieve the task of protecting our population across the region. We must be steadfast in the upkeep of our knowledge and we must strive to keep up the technological advances to achieve the task of protecting our population from the scourge of infectious diseases. 

 

“This means that administrations across the health care system and in the region must put their money and human resources where their mouths are and vigorously support our infectious control prevention programmes across the region. We must not settle for mediocrity, but must always be proactive and not only be reactive to crises and outbreaks,” he stated.

 

Delivering remarks yesterday at the QEH auditorium during the start of Caribbean Infection Control Week, Forde stated, “To many of us we always hear ‘There is no staff’ or ‘There is no money’ or ‘How will we fulfill this?’ but I say, where there is a will there is a way.”

 

Saying that there is a strong partnership between the Pan American Health Organisation and the World Health Organisation, the Caribbean Public Health Agency, Caricom and other agencies in giving assistance to the QEH, he also challenged the University of the West Indies to develop specific modules for infection prevention control as part of their curriculum for the education of the young medical professionals. (JMB)