The opposition shadow minister of health issued a statement Tuesday expressing a lack of confidence in assurances from Trinidad and Tobago's minister of health that all systems are in place to effectively deal Swine Flu.
Dr Tim Gopeesingh said he believes that since the virus has hit all major continents there is the strong possibility that citizens of Trinidad and Tobago could become infected. He added that the given the current poor state of the health sector that means citizens at serious risk.
"In the first instance, the Ministry has not properly advised citizens of what the signs and symptoms of the virus are and what they must do if they develop the symptoms. There are also no proper protocols in place to guide medical personnel of the management of suspected cases," Gopeesingh said.
The Caroni East MP said his investigations show that most medical officers are unsure what the procedure is for testing, where testing is available, how to notify the authorities, which public agencies to contact or where to direct patients so that they can be treated and/or quarantined.
"While the Ministry says it has the medication for treating Swine Flu, Tamiflu, no-one has been told where this stock is or how and where to access it if they need to," he said adding that the country "recently witnessed the disgraceful situation where persons suffering from Dengue and inflicted with the deadly Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever were turned away from public hospitals because of a lack of capacity to deal with these cases."
International health experts say there is no vaccine for Swine Flu but doctors can treat it with medication like Tamiflu. However they warn that taking such drugs without cause could make the situation worse. They say the greatest danger is that they can put others at risk by making this particular virus resistant to drugs like Tamiflu.
Gopeesingh also slammed the government for the general poor state of the health facilities, which he said have been plagued by shortage of beds, staffing, equipment, supplies and other essentials.
He noted that serious diseases such as Swine Flu will require additional beds which are reserved, designated ward spaces and reserved respiratory isolation units. These facilities, he said, will require skilled personnel for management.
"The Minister must tell the nation where these facilities are. Where are they located? Were they built over the weekend? Or is it that the population can expect further bed shortages as the already scarce regular beds and bed space is converted for reserve use?" Gopeesingh asked.
He said, "The Minister must not allow people to die as he did with the dengue outbreak. He must come clean with the population and put the necessary facilities and systems in place, not the usual and customary unfulfilled promises."
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