Jamaican doctors say they will not expose themselves to treat Ebola patients

Doctors in Jamaica do not have access to the essential safety gear necessary to treat ailing patients during an Ebola outbreak. 

As a result of this, some have made it known they are simply not willing to attend to Ebola patients in the unfortunate event that the virus reaches the island without adequate protective gear.

According to a report by the Gleaner, a recent workshop held  in light of the outbreak in Africa, erupted in concerns after it was disclosed that health officials in Jamaica do not have the requisite hazard-management gear, or even the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved personal protection equipment (PPE) to deal with the Ebola virus. Only standard PPE gear, consisting of a regular fabric medical gown, goggles, and N95 or N100 oxygen masks are available, and these are useless against the disease, the forum of medical doctors, firefighters and other emergency-response workers were told. The N95 can only last for four hours, according to doctors, while the N100 for 24 hours.

Jamaica doesnt ahve equipment to isolate and quarantine treat ebola
Image Source: usatoday.com

“If the Government doesn’t supply us with these things, who is going out to work?” asked one doctor from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the UHWI, sparking murmurs among the gathering.

  

The doctor hinted at the possibility of an outbreak, suggesting that there are students from countries affected by the virus currently at the University of the West Indies, and frowned on the Government’s lacklustre approach in preparing for the disease, which has presented itself in the United States.

“We don’t have any money in Jamaica, but if it comes, I don’t know how many of us are going to be willing to come to work. We in ICU are not going to deal with it. I’m not going to expose my doctors and nurses to that,” he continued. “So Accident and Emergency will have to decide what they are going to do with the first one (case).”

Source: The Gleaner

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Janet Margaret Davis
8 years ago

I agree with the doctors, why should they put themselves and others at risk because the government fail to provide adequate clothing to protect them? It’s insane to think they would be expected to treat highly infectious patients without protection and it just proves the Jamaican government are cheap and don’t care about anyone except their politicians.

Noel Davis
8 years ago

well from our point of view I hope it don’t come here,from my experience we take too long to deal with things god help us.

Olumide Akinwumi
8 years ago

Jamaicans talk about this virus like its a one man thing…If the government don’t do this…we wont do that…If one man contracts Ebola…Hundred men contracts it…and with the typical Jamaican way of reasoning…Mi naah die alone…So they will want to spread it…Jamaican government better be prepared…and be strict with visitors and tourists coming into the Island from this moment…Jamaica is just an Island of less than 4 million population…It will only take a few months. (If you know what I mean) A word is enough for the wise.

Rowe Curtain
8 years ago

It’s nice to see people praying….. I mean, it seemed the entire island was angry with a certain politician for mentioning and defending his belief in God the other day…. Anyway, may the lord have mercy on our island. We really cannot manage.

Rowe Curtain
8 years ago

It’s nice to see people praying….. I mean, it seemed the entire island was angry with a certain politician for mentioning and defending his belief in God the other day…. Anyway, may the lord have mercy on our island. We really cannot manage.

Aldrean Watson
8 years ago

I have to agree with the doctors but I also sympathies with the people who will be affected… But what do you expect from a government who choose to fly to another country when they get sick for treatment. Not everyone can fly out but they can. What does that tell you about them? It simply means they don’t trust the medical system that they create for the people who vote them into office…. Really sad situation….

Aldrean Watson
8 years ago

I have to agree with the doctors but I also sympathies with the people who will be affected… But what do you expect from a government who choose to fly to another country when they get sick for treatment. Not everyone can fly out but they can. What does that tell you about them? It simply means they don’t trust the medical system that they create for the people who vote them into office…. Really sad situation….

Latoya Edwards
8 years ago

Y we don’t call a state of emergency, we need to put a hold on incoming n outgoing flights for awhile….. Until dis Ebola virus passes…

Latoya Edwards
8 years ago

Y we don’t call a state of emergency, we need to put a hold on incoming n outgoing flights for awhile….. Until dis Ebola virus passes…

Shaquille Palmer
8 years ago

The government will spend approximately 3 million u.s on the coming election this season yet their is no money to protect our nation. I hope this serves as an eye opener to why all poleing stations should be empty this season.the government is the living representation of pharaoh both sides.

Chris Moo
8 years ago

Lets Do Less With More $$$ Money, Per Portia!!

Chris Moo
8 years ago

Lets Do Less With More $$$ Money, Per Portia!!

Tyshan Millen
8 years ago

cant blame them

Sheldon Williams
8 years ago

A government without a structured plan to combat this epidemic, as usual never have have funds to do anything only for their personal retreats.Every day they the prove how heartless they are to the citizens of this country,no one is held accountable for their failures .How the hell they expect these doctors to treat patients without the requisite protective gear,even aid workers wearing protective gear in Guinea and Liberia have contracted this virus and died as a result ,imagine working without.

Sheldon Williams
8 years ago

A government without a structured plan to combat this epidemic, as usual never have have funds to do anything only for their personal retreats.Every day they the prove how heartless they are to the citizens of this country,no one is held accountable for their failures .How the hell they expect these doctors to treat patients without the requisite protective gear,even aid workers wearing protective gear in Guinea and Liberia have contracted this virus and died as a result ,imagine working without.

Kaska Macka
8 years ago

Is there a Government in Jamaica? who care for the people? since they take Jamaica from Breton the government have don nothing look at the hospital road water light employment what is the role of government I see Manley sick and he went to America for the command cool The Ebola is a disease to reduce the black race what can the black race doo there is no government we are helpless

Andy Uranidiothavingsuchalongname Au

Doctors if I were you I would just do the same. You guys have families too, you guys have dreams, hopes and vacations you want to go on. If the gov’t feel like they do not need to do anything then I do not see why you guys should look Death straight in the eye (yes not take a risk but to die because thats what the gov’t is asking you to do)

Rasando Grey
8 years ago

I only hope it doesn’t reach that stage it would br disastrous for jamaican

Glee Child Care Ja
8 years ago

I wouldnt either, but then again they did take a hypocratic oath…if we haven’t saught some AiD from oversees for a quarantine area with hazmat suits special disposal areas and all it takes to contain and treat the patients by now, we are witnessing the most reactive and fool fool set of leaders this generation has voted into power. God help us all!

Dhag Storm
8 years ago

While I understand the doctors’ stance I find it very selfish. so many people have died at their hands as a result of malpractice. ..and now they are saying that they won’t expose themselves? the last time I checked they were not immune to Ebola. but it is what it is. We have grown customed to be shafted especially if you poor.

Dhag Storm
8 years ago

While I understand the doctors’ stance I find it very selfish. so many people have died at their hands as a result of malpractice. ..and now they are saying that they won’t expose themselves? the last time I checked they were not immune to Ebola. but it is what it is. We have grown customed to be shafted especially if you poor.

Morice Lewis
8 years ago

This is not something you want to wait until it gets here it may, it may not the US think it would not get to them and anything in the US has a very good chance of getting here

Morice Lewis
8 years ago

This is not something you want to wait until it gets here it may, it may not the US think it would not get to them and anything in the US has a very good chance of getting here

Neelohcin Siwel
8 years ago

This was the same approach the health care providers in West Africa had, but where has it gotten them? In my opinion, who ever is out of the country should stay out and whoever is in stay in as long as there is no case of the virus here.

'Maldon HIGH School' Class od 1990'

A police a the only idiots around here… SMH

Paula Mclean
8 years ago

PORTIA SMPSON WHAT R U GOING TO DO TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF JAMAICA FROM THIS EBOLA DESTRUCTION THE PEOPLE THEM VOTE U IN TO DO BETTER BUT INSTEAD U AND LISA HANNAH A THIEF UP THE MONEY;

Tanesha Davis
8 years ago

I was just reading an article about Senegal, this third world poor country like our own has managed to be Ebola free. They did it not by scurrying to treat patients but my preventing its entry in their country. They tighten their border control like no other. Asking airplane staff to alert the authorities of passengers with signs of the disease. They did this by land and air. The focus has to be to contain the virus right now, this idea of “just another day at the office” cannot work. The idea of entertainers or people traveling to West Africa… Read more »

Janet Marie Burke
8 years ago

Two years preparing for Chikunguya

Valerie Angela Lawrence-Lacasse

Maybe they should be asking the Government and people in commerce to rectify the matter afterall if money can be raised for other things money could be raised to allow purchase of these items.No persons should be allowed travel back and forth from these countrys affected into JAMAICA full stop.

Valine Williams
8 years ago

My granny had a old tale saying , if sick no care why should doctor care. Who can blame them ? I certainly don’t . They are humans , they have families and they value their lives too. Seriously ! Is Jamaica running itself ? What is the government role and duty ? How could we be so fooled to elect our own enemies as government ? Mrs pm what more will it take for you and your elected body to realise Jamaicans are humans ? That we are not dogs , hogs and just common X every 5 years… Read more »

NorthgateYouth AndFamily DevelopmentFoundation

Just collaborate with Cube who can train the doctors accordingly. They recently sent over 200 doctors to West Africa to assist in the process of dealing with Ebola.

Vee Vee Graham
8 years ago

I think we all need to find out what that young girl in Africa used successfully to protect her self while caring her relatives to health. Because if noone cares for them a whole lot more persons are likely to suffer

Lex Calxuna
8 years ago

I can’t disagree with the right to self preservation in the most sensible manner. The doctors are right. This one allows no mistakes.We are gonna have to spend the money up front or lose the money later or ‘all two both’ as they say in Barbados. The financial sacrifice wouldn’t be as bad a thing as if the virus were to get here. Would you now be looking forward to travelling to the islands in the sun? Life and the little freedom we currently enjoy would not be bad things to have exclusively. We need to get the necessities or… Read more »

Ripton Johnson
8 years ago

That would be a clear violation of the Hippocratic Oath that all doctors swear to. See below Hippocratic Oath (Modern version) I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant: I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow. I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism. I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science,… Read more »

Hector Clarke
8 years ago

If one police officer ever mentioned that he is not going somewhere to save a life because he does not have a bullet proof vest you won’t hear the the last of it, I am sure the those doctors took an oath to save lives under any circumstances, so do your job doc

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Hector Clarke
8 years ago

If one police officer ever mentioned that he is not going somewhere to save a life because he does not have a bullet proof vest you won’t hear the the last of it, I am sure the those doctors took an oath to save lives under any circumstances, so do your job doc