The virus might seems to be far away, yet we are very close to it
PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten is very proactive in its Ebola preparedness announced Minister of Health Cornelius de Weever at a press conference held on Monday morning. The Minister said an intervention management team is already in place to handle the any situations relating to the Ebola virus. Based on the international regulations Minister De Weever said the legislation on international regulations on how to handle the disease was passed through the Council of Ministers and is currently at the Council of Advice before it reaches parliament.
Dr. Assen from the Ministry of Health who attended the Pan-American Health Organization meeting that was held in Washington told reporters that St. Maarten is very much up to date with its preparedness and awareness program which kicked off on September 30th, 2014. Dr. Assen said the chances of Ebola reaching St. Maarten is very small but even though that is the case the island has to be prepared. She said this was discussed during a lunch meeting in Washington.
The Ambulance Department plays a very important role in this preparedness therefore they already have the necessary things in place in case there is a case of Ebola on the island. The staff of the ambulance department received the necessary training also the vehicles are prepared in order for the staff to provide the care necessary. Those plans at the ambulance department include questions they need to ask when they are called out, therefore providing the staff with background information on Ebola was absolutely necessary. One of the questions the ambulance personnel has to ask patients is if they have travelled or been a resident to an Ebola infected country, or have they been in contact with an Ebola infected patient or if they attended the funeral of a person that died of Ebola. The staff of the ambulance department are mandated to wear protective gear when dealing with such cases. Ambulance personnel have to wear gowns, googles and other protective gear while dealing with the patient and cleaning the ambulance. Household bleach is one the products that are used to clean the ambulance. Patients who may be infected with Ebola have to inform the staff of the St. Maarten Medical Center.
SMMC is not fully prepared but there is an isolation room for such cases, this room also has the necessary equipment to provide intensive care. Plans are in place to also work with the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital with the Ebola prevention since the Ebola preparedness plan.
