GREAT BAY:--- The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) is in the process of establishing a "Sint Maarten Ebola Virus Disease Incidence Management Team" (SXM EVD IMT), and is continuing to meet with stakeholders as part of national preparedness according to international health regulations and requirements for every country around the world.
Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
This EVD outbreak has a fatality rate of 54%. Early intervention is having a positive result on mortality as it used to be 90%.
The current outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa poses a low risk for the Caribbean. There are no cases of Ebola in the Caribbean.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared early August a Public Health Emergency of International Concern with respect to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa that is in the States of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
On August 21 various stakeholders that fall under Emergency Support Function (ESF-6) which is part of the national disaster management system, met at Ministry VSA to discuss preparedness issues and plans in connection with EVD.
ESF-6 comprises of Public Health, Inspectorate, Collective Prevention Services (CPS), Physicians, St. Maarten Medical Center, Laborartory and Emergency Medical Services.
Minister of VSA Hon. Cornelius de Weever has been following all developments closely with respect to EVD and is confident about the pro-active preparations that the country is taking as required by international health organizations.
Head of CPS Dr. Virginia Asin stated, "The purpose of the meeting was to inform the coordinators about the current status and to discuss and agree on a preparedness plan consisting of preparedness plans of each of the organizations within ESF-6.
"After the introductions the coordinators discussed what the preparedness of their individual institute would entail. Much discussion went into the preparedness of the hospital (SMMC), the laboratory (SLS), Physicians and Pharmacists.
"The ESF-6 coordinators also at the meeting will inform their staff about EBV and the preparedness for Sint Maarten.
"The coordinators will submit their plans and within two weeks all the plans will be compiled as one ESF-6 Ebola Preparedness plan.
"In a subsequent meeting stakeholders outside the Health Sector will be informed and their preparedness discussed," CPS Head Dr. Asin disclosed on Sunday.
For further information you should consult with your family physician or call CPS at telephone number: 542-3553, 542-2078.
