By Caribbean Medical News Staff
With immediate effect, the St Lucia Government has imposed a travel ban on persons whose travel originates in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and anyone attempting to enter at their ports will be denied entry. Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago have also followed suit. Nigerians are being asked to provide health certificates. This is in response to the ever-increasing Ebola virus.
“We were able to provide details of our preparation efforts and sensitization methods for dealing with Ebola, and were given additional advice from CARPHA and PAHO,” said Alvina Reynolds, Saint Lucia’s minister for health. “Of course, there are standards and protocols that we have to follow in order to stem the spread of the virus, and Saint Lucia is following very closely with that protocol. There was a promise of support from PAHO and other agencies like CARPHA.”
According to WHO, up to 10 000 cases a week will be diagnosed if the international community does not step in to help with funding and equipment, medical supplies, hazmat gear and human resources.
Nigeria is said to have contained the Ebola illness.
All visitors from the three countries will be denied entry into Saint Lucia until further notice say officials.
A few months ago, Trinidad & Tobago PM, Kamla Persad-Bissessar had asked for a CARICOM meeting to discuss Chikungunya and Ebola and now Grenada is asking for a position from the OECS on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa which has seen cases (mainly among health care workers and journalists) in the US, UK, Germany and Spain and the implications for the OECS.
Reynolds also said that it was imperative for the region to work together to combat the health issues which face the region and in whatever way possible to ensure that Ebola does not hit the Caribbean’s shores.
“Each country has to do what is possible to prepare its people. The reality is that our people are travelling to other territories. It is not only persons coming into Saint Lucia that we are to monitor, but Saint Lucians travelling across the globe. They too have to be vigilant, and they have to be aware of what is happening and know how to protect themselves as much as possible,” Reynolds said.
