Three days before Christmas, the Glebe Polyclinic in St. George, Barbados, received a donation from PAHO/WHO Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries (ECC).
Bridgetown, Barbados, December 22, 2020 (PAHO/WHO) - In their continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic, PAHO presented the polyclinic with a state of the art standing non-contact thermometer, one wrist thermometer, one laptop, a printer, a docking station and a 27” Monitor. Previously, a similar donation was made to the Randal Phillips and Eunice Gibson Polyclinics.
PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the ECC, Dr. Yitades Gebre, not only came bearing gifts but also words of advice for the Christmas season.
“We need to suppress transmission of all SARS-CoV-2 viruses as quickly as we can. The more we allow it to spread, the more opportunity it has to change. At this festive time of year for so many, the best gift for health workers is for leaders and citizens to take precautions that ease the pressure on health systems.
Dr. Gebre cautioned: “Vaccines are offering hope for some, but vaccine nationalism will deprive the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people of these life-saving tools. Political commitment needs to be translated into action.”
Referring to the identification of a variant strain of COVID-19, Dr. Gebre recalled: “Last week, South African and UK health officials informed WHO and the public about different variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 circulating in their countries. WHO is in close contact with health officials and scientists in the UK and South Africa about changes they have identified in the virus.
“The UK has reported that this new variant transmits more easily but there is no indication so far that it is more likely to cause severe disease, or have an impact on vaccines.”
The PWR stated: “Viruses change as they circulate, and these changes can lead to changes in characteristics of the virus. Everyone must continue to take all actions to slow and eventually stop the spread of the virus. WHO will continue to inform countries and the public as it learns more.
Dr. Gebre reminded: “Response to the COVID pandemic must be collective. No one is safe until everyone is safe. We need to be prepared to have a vaccine to be added in our global effort."
Lt. Col. the Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, Minister of Health and Wellness, thanked PAHO for their advice, technical support and donations, which allows Barbados to “maintain the level of health care services, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Minister also reiterated that “vaccines will enhance what we are doing and what we are doing, we must continue to do.”
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth George, Dr. Carl Ward and other staff of the Glebe Polyclinic, and Dr. Rufus Ewing, Advisor, Health Systems and Services and other staff of the PAHO/WHO Barbados Country Office also attended the handover ceremony.
