Health Minister extends hours of health centres in wake of chikungunya crisis

By Caribbean Medical News Staff
Minister of Health, Dr. Fenton Ferguson has directed the Western Regional Health Authority to urgently and immediately extend opening hours for at least three health centres to facilitate persons who need non-emergency care according to Government sources. This is in the wake of a visit made by the Minister to the Cornwall Regional Hospital.
The Ministry of Health reported that all Parishes in Jamaica are now touched with the chikungunya virus which was deemed “out of control” by some individuals in political quarters and other sectors of the community.
The increase is being realized in the Western Region with a decline in new cases in the eastern parishes including St. Thomas, Kingston and St. Andrew and St. Catherine.
Acknowledging that there was an unexplained increase in people seeking medical help, he suggested that this was likely a result of an increase in chikungunya cases. Jamaica, like many Caribbean nations is grappling with the chikununya disease.
“The decision to extend opening hours is as a result of an increase in the number of visits to health centres and hospitals for non-emergency care. In light of the increased demand, I have asked the Board and Management of the Western Regional Health Authority to put the necessary measures in place to facilitate persons who can be seen at the health centre level,” said Ferguson.
He directed that the hours be extended at facilities in the Western Regional Health Authority including Catherine Hall, Montego Bay Type 5 and Salem Health Centres to remove the burden from the hospital.
The Minister also suggested that he expected to see a decrease in the number of people currently overcrowding the Emergency departments in the Western Region allowing the hospital’s A&E to focus on emergency care.
“By doing this we will also reduce the frustrations experienced by persons who wait in A&E for non-emergency as they tend to have longer waiting time because of the priority given to persons who are emergency cases,” he said.