Diseases emerging locally because BVI has ‘fallen off’ track
CEO of the BVI Health Services Authority, Dr June Samuel said the BVI has seen an emergence of certain diseases because the community has ‘fallen off track’ with preventative care.
Dr Samuel said healthcare workers have seen local emergent diseases such as Hand-foot-and-mouth, as well as respiratory tract illnesses in children.
“I would dare to say that we as a community have fallen off, because recently we had an outbreak of Hand, Foot & Mouth disease in our daycares, …and now we are seeing in the ER, children coming through with respiratory tract illnesses. We are not doing the things that we should do…we need to do the things we should do to keep ourselves safe,” Dr Samuel explained during her address at a recent local ceremony to mark International Infection Prevention Week.
The local health experts at the ceremony also expressed serious concern about diseases such as COVID 19, Ebola and Monkey Pox. They said they are eyeing these diseases as they can re-emerge globally at any time and become a threat to the BVI.
“There’s no way we can go back to the way we used to live. Imagine COVID-19 is still very present and here comes Monkeypox. Ebola is also raising its head again, there’s a current outbreak as we speak in Uganda. But again, because of science and the headway that has been made there are six candidate vaccines in the works right now, for this new strain of Ebola,” Infection Prevention Manager Rosa Ravariere-Seaman explained.
“Understandably, the rapid rise and spread of Ebola across five districts in Uganda have alarmed scientists and raised fears that the outbreak may not be easy to contain. With the advent of world travel, all it takes is one case, one person to leave Uganda and God forbid; we may be facing something similar to COVID,” she added.
In the meantime, Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronald Georges said the BVI has to “build on the foundations of the past”.
“We have to understand the new challenges of re-emerging and emerging infections. We have to also understand how we as healthcare professionals can introspect in ourselves and influence our behaviours and those around us,” Dr Ronald Georges said.
International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is organised annually by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
The week of activities this year highlighted decades of infection prevention, while inspiring the next generation of infection preventionists.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Respiratory track illnesses would be contributed to air pollution. Every breath in and out vitro.
The polluted air courtesy of the well known air polluter of all times located in Pockwood Pond.
Akin to Auschwitz.
Deliberate evil perpetrated by a Government.
When you were only concern about 1 lab made issue and forgot that we still have to exist…in these islands
That’s what happens
and add lackadaisicalness , has a lot to do with it , people are being misdiagnosed at that health facility on a daily basis / WHO is checking out the equipment , machines that is being used on patients , l
In making sure that they are being serviced on a regular basis by a real professional , ( it ain’t no joke , your life might be jepodised, and some the so called nurses really has a LOT to be desired , who feels it knows it, it needs SERIOUS attention PLEASE
The number of disaster stories at peebles is ridiculous. Operating on wrong patient, wrong limb, wrong illness, sending home of ill patients and the stories go on and on..
The Dr. Doctors not the PHD Doctors with the Dr. in front of there name, has not explain the cause of the problem and how it can be remedied in our society.
Ebola does not spread like Covid. It requires close bodily contact to catch it. Direct contact is also required to spread monkey pox.
Spreading fear and alarm is easier though as you demonstrate.
These people should be struck off, as medical professionals responsible for public health they need to spend more time reading the published literature rather than the CDC or WHO website. I wonder whether it is easier for them to go along with the WHO, shift the responsibility. Maybe they feel their lives are too busy to sit down and read some studies regarding covid and the vaccines and the alternative treatments that are available. Instead they are now spreading fear and trying to coerce people who have not been adequately informed to take part in medical trials of a new type of treatment that is more akin to gene therapy than vaccination. At this point in time you have to be something special to still believe the lie of the past two years. If not then serious questions need to be raised and a criminal investigation needs to be implemented.
What the F**K is she really saying? We should all stay home and hide so we do not get sick? People have been getting sick since God knows when, it’s a part of life! How about providing health tips in terms of how proper nutrition, quality sleep, regular exercise etc. can mitigate against most illnesses that are going around? Pushing fear in people is not the answer, pumping big pharma medication in people everyday is not the answer, come on!
caution with the inmigration people are bringning a lot of africans here lately without any cautions and all kind of people from all over without thinkng about the concecuences
Open garbage spreads gastroenteritus, vomiting, diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, malarial diseases, diptheria, tetanus. skin infections, mosquito’s/bong viruses to name a few
Cuban doctors? Ooops
Who don’t hear will feel, vaccines ah work.
How about a daily 5-minute segment on the Radios and TV station to promote health tips and inform the public.
You mean get off Social Media and do their job?
If the African would learn some basic hygiene there would be no problem. Shower, use soap and clean your clothes. Childrens toys should be washed, especially at schools and daycares. Cologne is not the answer!!! Such a Third World toilet bowl!!
Bvihsa is all about family and friends especially in the lab , they need to hire professionals people at that facility, my sister get wrong diagnosis and this cause her emotional distress, the hospital is in a very serious situation and needs urgent attention.
Y this woman don’t go sleep for coming here talking the hospital go to the dog her workers is getting sick she don’t care about we she is no better than pat Malon we want her out out out and all the managers them to
Tortola gets Hand Foot and Mouth every couple years-this is not new. Children with respiratory illnesses doesn’t surprise because the US is seeing high rates too. If Dr. Samuel isn’t happy, she can take over the BVIHSA.