Jamaica steps up to battle Covid-19

PHOTO: ADRIAN WALKER - JIS 

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (centre) speaking at the press conference on Tuesday (March 10) at the Ministry’s offices in New Kingston. Seated beside him are: Permanent Secretary, Dunstan Bryan (left) and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie.

Excerpts from Observer column published  MON 16 March 2020

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

“This feels like wartime,” says my friend, as we discuss our stocks of various meds and supplies. Yes indeed, we are in a war against an invisible enemy, but we can be grateful that the Jamaican government has taken timely steps to safeguard our health.

We have been in Covid-19 preparedness mode for a good two months. Health & Wellness Minister Christopher Tufton, Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacqueline Bisasor-McKenzie and team have been sharing prevention information religiously.  My friend who has strong connections with the health sector said that in January she knew of moves being made to stock up on the necessary meds and hygiene items.  There have been advertisements on traditional and digital media about hand-washing and other precautions to be taken. Press briefings held by the Minister informed us of the first two cases and subsequently, six additional cases. 

Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ press conference last Friday was comprehensive and reassuring.  The participation of his Cabinet members demonstrated that he had all hands on deck. We can understand the quarantine measures set up in the Six Miles and Seven Miles area of Bull Bay where ‘Patient Zero’ had attended a funeral, and her father and a close friend have now tested positive for the virus.  Let the two-week incubation pass so that, if present, other cases can be identified.

We are particularly impressed with the measures being taken to protect the residents of the 13 Government infirmaries islandwide. We learned from Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie that of the 3,500 residents, 98 percent were high-risk and therefore provisions are being made for a good stock of medications, hygiene supplies and isolation areas.

Building of additional accommodation will take place at some of these infirmaries for some 50 ‘social patients’ in our public hospitals.  Who are these individuals? They are fully recovered patients who have been abandoned by their families. It makes one nervous for the elderly in our communities during these trying times. Some of them may be terrified of commuting to get supplies. We can check on such neighbours to ensure they have their supplies and call them regularly, as loneliness can lead to depression.

Our days worker arrived in gloves last week.  We explained to her that it was safer not to wear gloves generally, but to observe a strict handwashing and hand-sanitizing regimen as gloves will carry germs and can give a false sense of security. As has several other organisations, last Friday we decided to have our team members at PROComm and CCRP work remotely, as several of them use public transportation and we would not want them to have that level of exposure.

It took a while for some church leaders to see the light, but thankfully it is happening. Now pastors are advising their elderly members that they should stay away from church services.  My friend in New Jersey says his Roman Catholic Archdiocese has suspended Mass. We have to remember, “God helps those who help themselves.”

We cannot thank the members of our essential services enough for their dedication: medical personnel, the security forces, the fire department, power and telecoms providers. As we gear for the challenges in our health system, we thank the Government of Cuba for assisting with medical personnel.  May we ‘flatten’ the curve of this virus by taking personal responsibility in safeguarding ourselves, our families, our workplaces and our churches. Wash your hands and keep your distance.

IDB’s Turner Jones on digital transformation

As we plan to work remotely for the next fortnight, we recall the repeated calls of IDB’s Caribbean Regional Manager Therese Turner Jones that we need digital transformation in our businesses, government agencies and educational institutions to maximise efficiency and keep in step with our global partners.

Jamaica Observer business reporter Kellaray Miles quoted her at a recent event: “Most firms in the Caribbean region, about some 19 per cent or less than one in five, rely on any kind of research and development to grow their businesses — that's an appalling number!”

“It’s coming,” she declared, “artificial intelligence or over the Internet — we are not applying new and innovative ways of doing things to the ways businesses are operating in the Caribbean.”

Turner-Jones noted, “It's not about mastering 15 or 23 CXCs as they do in Guyana, that's not really a good way of educating our kids for the future. Kids for the future need to be global citizens, knowing how to be multilingual, digitally literate, and able to collaborate and work with each other in teams.”

This applies to Jamaicans of all ages. We see constant complaints from seniors about long waits in banking halls, so we need to help them understand the convenience of online banking.  CCRP Board Director and retired civil servant Vilma McDonald attests to the ease with which she not only does banking but also pays her utility bills online. This Covid-19 situation should motivate us to download those apps and make good use of our smartphones.