NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (November 11, 2020) — The Ministry of Health on Nevis continues to put measures in place at the island’s main health facility in preparation for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hon. Hazel Brandy-Williams, Junior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) stated at a sitting of the Nevis Island Assembly on November 05, 2020, that remedial work is being undertaken to ensure that the Alexandra Hospital is prepared in the event that there are cases of the virus on the island.
“We can say at this point that we have 19 designated beds for COVID patients. We have eight at Alexandra. We have eight at an offsite isolation unit and we have three at the Flamboyant [Nursing] Home. Those at the Flamboyant Home would only be for Flamboyant residents. So we have actually 16 available for the general public. We continue to ramp up the purchase of our PPE’s [Personal Protective Equipment], our protective clothing, our infrastructure.
“In terms of machinery and equipment, we are awaiting a specialist technician to come to Nevis to set up a piece of equipment we have, a chemical analyser. We are waiting on that person to come and that will improve our testing capabilities here on Nevis,” she said.
The Junior Health Minister explained that the NIA is not responsible for the delay in commissioning the equipment, and expressed hope that the matter would be resolved shortly.
“We are hoping that that person would come in short order. The challenge we met with that is that the technician who we were liaising with has since left that company who usually services this special equipment, and so the company is liaising with us in the process of getting another technician to come and commission that piece of equipment. So we are awaiting,” she said.
Mrs. Brandy-Williams noted that persons should take personal responsibility to safeguard themselves.
“We have witnessed the reopening of our borders and in so doing we at the Ministry of Health and Gender Affairs and by extension the COVID Task Force, we want to advise persons to the importance of remaining resilient and ramping up our own individual security as it pertains to the protocols that have been put in place…
“The clarion call is out for persons to adhere to the protocols and to take personal responsibility for upkeeping of these protocols,” she said.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (November 10, 2020) — Senior citizens residing at the Flamboyant Nursing Home in Charlestown have been gifted with personal care supplies, a donation from the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) Women’s Arm.
Ms. Latoya Jones, President of the CCM Women’s Arm, presented the items during a handing over ceremony at the Home on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. She said the gesture was just one of several donations slated for the group’s Week of Activities.
“Our seniors play an important role in nation building hence we owe them a debt of gratitude.
“As part of our Week of Activities the CCM Women’s Arm, even though we’re just a few month old, wishes to donate these essential supplies, well need supplies, to the Flamboyant Nursing Home,” she said.
Ms. Jones stated that the group had reached out to officials at the Alexandra Hospital, indicating their desire to make a donation to the Flamboyant Nursing Home, and their offer to assist was graciously accepted.
“We are truly thankful to management and staff who would have allowed us to make this contribution today.
“We do look forward to building a strong relationship with the seniors, as well as continuing to support them in every way that we can,” she said.
The donated items included adult diapers, toilet paper, antibacterial handwashing liquid soaps, baby oil, wipes, Vaseline, Q-tips, toothpaste and other personal care items.
Registered Nurse Kella Didier who is attached to the Flamboyant Nursing Home, accepted the supplies, indicating they would be beneficial to the residents at the facility.
“One behalf of the residents and staff of the Flamboyant Nursing Home I would like to thank you all for your donation.
“I assure you it will go to good use. As you said, they are essentials and the residents will make use of all these on a daily basis. We are very thankful for your donation and we feel very special that you would have kept us in your thoughts,” she said.
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