Don’t drink the water in Turks and Caicos, warns health ministry

The original article can be found in: Caribbean News Now

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — In an apparent vote of no confidence in the local water supply in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), the Ministry of Health and Human Services, in a press release on Wednesday, cautioned all residents and visitors to drink only bottled or boiled water.

In a statement regarding cholera clinical management training recently held in the TCI, the ministry said, “To date there has been no reported cases of cholera in the Turks and Caicos Islands. However, in an effort to keep the TCI cholera-free, the ministry encourages all residents and visitors to wash hands frequently, drink only bottled or boiled water, and avoid raw or undercooked foods.”

The water supply in Grand Turk in particular, which is currently battling an outbreak of gastroenteritis, has been the subject of much debate and controversy. The interim government was criticised for months for failures in the existing reverse osmosis (RO) unit(s) and for a shutdown of the water system, which had fallen into disrepair during the last Progressive National Party (PNP) administration.

Reacting to the need and criticism, the interim administration ordered a brand new high capacity unit and performed needed repairs on the outdated and badly worn older RO units. However, the new RO plant for Grand Turk still awaits a delayed enclosure building. In what appears to a missed detail, the need for an enclosure building to house the new plant has been overlooked and continues to be delayed.

The new RO plant remains with the supplier and will not be shipped to Grand Turk until the building to house the plant has been contracted and built

Meanwhile, healthcare professionals from the TCI health services were trained in the clinical management of cholera and other diarrheal diseases in four one-day sessions held recently by the Ministry of Health and Human Services. The sessions were a part of an ongoing cholera and diarrheal disease risk reduction initiative supported with funding from the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DfID).

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