Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called for a coordinated and preventative effort to address the burgeoning public health issues of Ebola and Chikungunya at the CARICOM level. Ebola has to date killed 1300 people and infected 2200 according to reports from the World Health Organization.
Through this meeting, the Twin-island Republic PM said she hopes to draw on the expertise of Ministers of Health and Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Denzil Douglas and other health professionals in CARICOM member states. The proposed meeting would be a response to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), which sounded a call for the CARICOM member states “to adequately prepare for potential cases to implement the necessary steps to protect health care facilities, patients, health care workers and communities.”
“In order to support the global efforts to contain the spread of the disease and provide a coordinated international response for the travel and tourism sector, the heads of WHO, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Airports Council International (ACI), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) decided to activate a Travel and Transport Task Force which will monitor the situation and provide timely information to the travel and tourism sector as well as to travelers.”
The conference will also look at the potential threat to tourism that the eruption of any Ebola and chikungunya crisis might pose. Thus far, there have been no reported cases of Ebola in the region but Trinidad has reported over 22 cases with 38 000 suspected cases being reported in the Caribbean with 32 deaths.
“As Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, my approach to regional matters is similar to my approach here at home — we must not wait for a crisis to act,” said Persad-Bissessar. She also asked for an approach to the public health potential crises as a matter of prevention and not reaction.
“My advice to colleague heads of government in the Caribbean is to take preemptive measures to ensure the safety, health and well-being of millions of citizens of the Caribbean region. While our risk is low, our actions must further diminish the risks to our citizens. And I am confident that nations across CARICOM will respond favourably,” said the Trinidad PM.
