Monday, November 23 2009

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YOUNG PARRANDEROS: Some young parranderos demonstrate their musical skills before taking part in the Secondary Schools National Junior Parang finals a...

OFFICIALS OF the Ministry of Health say systems are in place to cater for the health needs of the population and visitors during this week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The entire national health system is currently on emergency alert pre-CHOGM and will be on maximum alert on the actual CHOGM days.

During CHOGM, which takes place from Thursday to next Monday, around 8,000 persons will be visiting Trinidad and Tobago. The Ministry of Health is a key part of the CHOGM Emergency Services Sub-Committee, formed to plan, coordinate and implement emergency medical care for the 51 Heads of Delegations/States and Foreign Ministers, as well as their spouses, delegates of the Youth, People’s and Business Forums, media, secretarial and other staff. The health sector will also be a part of the Disaster Response led by the security forces. Emergency Services Sub-Committee procedures used for the Fifth Summit of the Americas will also be used for CHOGM.

Round the clock Advanced Medical Stations (AMS) will be located at all the hotels where participants will be staying, as well as the two national airports, the Port-of- Spain sea port and CHOGM venue sites. These will provide on-site emergency care. There will also be roving medical stations which will respond to hotels and other locations which do not have a fixed AMS. The two participating cruise ships, the Caribbean Princess and the Serenade of the Seas, will have their own medical services on board. The AMTs will provide back-up medical care to these cruise ships.

Muster points have been clearly identified at all CHOGM venues, airports, sea ports and accommodating hotels.

Medical staffing will be used from the various Regional Health Authorities (RHA’s). While some will be on duty during the CHOGM days, others will be on call in the event there are any large scale medical emergencies requiring the mobilisation of various health facilities, additional staffing and specialist medical teams.

Both the public and private health facilities will be utilised to respond to medical emergencies. All hospitals will be used but as the Port-of-Spain Hospital general is in the zone of major activity, their emergency services will respond immediately supported by the others if the need is required. Private health facilities will be mobilised if any excess health care capacity is required.

Routine medical services will continue as normal during CHOGM. All participating institutions have tested their emergency and disaster plans over two simulation exercises. Public health surveillance monitoring will be done daily for water and food safety as well as for infectious diseases.

Microbiological testing has been ongoing every day at each hotel and CHOGM site to be used, both pre-CHOGM and during CHOGM.

In regards to Influenza A /H1N1, CHOGM delegates have been advised to delay travel, if ill and while at CHOGM to utilise proper sanitary practices.

Medical cards will be given to all CHOGM attendees with recommended health care practices and instructions for where to go or call for medical attention.