Thread by @christufton

NOW Live in Parliament as we address, #EveryOneCounts.

I will be addressing a new phase of the implementation plan for the COVID-19 management for Jamaica.

TUNE IN! 👇👇👇👇

#JaCOVID19

facebook.com/christufton/vi…

The Ministry of Health and Wellness at the beginning of this experience outlined 4 phases for the plan. Those being:
1.Inter-Pandemic Phase
2.Alert Phase
3.Epidemic phase
4.Recovery Phase

@themohwgovjm #JaCovid19

While the Ministry is very cognisant of the fact that the current state of the epidemic is still very fragile and adherence to the Infection Prevention Control measure are critical to the mission of management and control of the epidemic...

...we must now begin the process of preparing the population to Live with COVID.
@themohwgovjm #JaCovid19

Living with COVID will represent many actions in the Public Health System.

This New Normal in Public Health must be underpinned by strategic goals.

@themohwgovjm #JaCovid19

Prioritisation of public health & the reintroduction of an “Every One Counts” approach to policy, must form part of the way in which we must now live & operate. @themohwgovjm has already began to build an infrastructure that will allow us to play our role with the “New Normal”.

This approach is anchored in the International Health Regulation standards for Public Health Systems and will involve the strengthening of systems in 8 areas:
1. Legislation and Policy
2. Coordination
3. Surveillance
4. Points of Entry

@themohwgovjm #JaCovid19

5. Laboratory
6. Human Resources
7. Health Facilities Prepared and Response
8. Risk Communication and Community Engagement
In each of these areas the @themohwgov will be working in collaboration with stakeholders to achieve the strategic mandates, ensuring that everyone counts.

In the spirit of ensuring that everyone counts, in this and all our public health efforts we have begun our engagement with the Private Sector to ensure that the most appropriate protocols for our return to work arrangements can be put in place.

@themohwgovjm #JaCOVID19

The PSOJ, JMA, JHTA, JCC and the Unions have all come to the table in a spirit of partnership to ensure that we are able to build robust protocols that protect the worker, protects the clients and ensures overall improvement in productivity.

@themohwgovjm #JaCOVID19

Update on our work in the public health systems:

• As at today, the capacity of the health system has been increased with 41 ICU Beds, 32 new ventilators, and 140 monitors.

@themohwgovjm #JaCOVID19

• We have expanded the amount of critical care clinicians through our partnership with the Cuban Government with the addition of over 200 health care professionals.

@themohwgovjm #JaCOVID19

• We have restocked our PPEs and we have strengthened significantly our ability to manage & support patients with infectious illnesses with the addition of COVID Wards, the inclusion of infection prevention, control training and revised protocols in hospitals/health facilities.

• In the past three (3) months, we have increased our capacity at the National Influenza Centre and the National Public Health Laboratory to do PCR Testing. At the beginning of the COVID-19 experience, samples had to be sent to CARPHA in Trinidad.

@themohwgovjm #JaCOVID19

Our Primary Health care system, in addition to the complement of community health aides, will also benefit from the deployment of the PAHO/WHO “Go Data” System that will not only enhance our capacity to capture information but strengthen surveillance for disease.
#JaCOVID19

Since March 10 (our first case) to now, we have increased our abilities to ensure that we can test on island and at a rate of over 2,000 samples per day. This is part of the strategy for the new normal, as companies & others return to work, the need for more testing is critical.

As such we are building out the necessary protocols for antibody and PCR testing to ensure that we can provide the support that is necessary for the effective and efficient operation of the society.

@themohwgovjm
#JaCovid19

Within the new normal we must ensure that we are aware of the risks and that these risks are managed both on the personal level and at the level of the society. In the new normal, everyone MUST count.

@themohwgovjm
#JaCovid19

As a society we must have a sense of heightened awareness and accountability for our own personal health and take charge of this responsibility by ensuring that we have all the required information to make rational choices as we go about our daily lives

@themohwgovjm
#JaCovid19

@themohwgovjm has already engaged in our Health Promotion and Protection strategies which has yielded significant outcomes in terms of the behaviour of our population to the washing of hands, the sanitising of surfaces and the wearing of masks.

@themohwgovjm
#JaCovid19

These actions not only protect you, but also protect those among us who may be least able to protect themselves. As we return to work, there is a need for increased vigilance and adherence to these protocols.

@themohwgovjm
#JaCovid19

Now is the time when we are required put into full practice all the actions that we have been using to ensure that we not only prevent ourselves from infection but that we protect the vulnerable.

@themohwgovjm
#JaCovid19

Our experience with COVID has shown the dangers of heightened levels of fear, which leads to irrational actions & negative outcomes.

As a people we must note that everyone counts: persons who have been affected are part of the answers, NOT a part of the problem.
#JaCOVID19

We must ensure that in the new normal antisocial actions that lead to persons being discriminated against because of they have contracted the disease are eliminated. COVID is not a death sentence neither is it a cause for panic and dismay.

@themohwgovjm
#JaCovid19

Over 98% of the persons who have contracted the disease in Jamaica have either recovered or are well on their way to recovery. In an effort to ensure that everyone counts, we must ensure that persons who are infected are integrated and live happy productive lives.
#JaCovid19