Ministry of Health must do more to protect both staff and patients from COVID-19

The media report in the Guardian Newspaper dated 13th January 2021, highlighting the unfortunate death of a patient at the Port of Spain General Hospital after contracting COVID-19 while at hospital is a serious cause for concern.

The Guardian reports that “that the elderly patient, who had comorbidities, was admitted and warded in the old COSTAATT building on December 22 where he was when its third outbreak occurred.”

It was also reported that the T&T Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) President Mr. Idi Stuart, said that 25 nurses, other staff, as well as patients were placed on quarantine and several of them have tested positive for COVID-19.

This entire scenario highlights a greater tragedy within our public health system that continues to be ignored by the Government. If proper safety protocols were upheld in accordance with World Health Organisation standards, this entire nightmare could have been avoided.

The Ministry must ensure that all protocols are adhered to as they must be the role models in this fight against COVID-19. One can only speculate if the Ministry of Health cannot enforce their own health protocols then who can?

The health and safety of our frontline workers must not be taken for granted and the infection of 25 nurses also exposes the flaws in the entire system at the Port of Spain General. The Ministry of Health must place as a matter of priority the health and safety of both patients and staff as we combat this pandemic together.

The Ministry of Health must ensure proper PPE is always available for our frontline workers as well as adhering to all World Health Organisation’s guidelines in the treatment and handling of patients.

The Minister of Health must conduct a full investigation must also be conducted into the death of this patient to ensure that what caused this to happen does not recur in the future.

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MP for Fyzabad