Health experts in Dominica have started a two-day training programme to combat the threats of coronavirus and tuberculosis. The training commenced at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital Laboratory and it is to equip health specialists in dealing with these deadly diseases.
Health Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre noted that the training is essential to help diagnose coronavirus if it does occur in Dominica. It is also crucial for diagnosing tuberculosis correctly so as to embark on necessary treatments shortly after diagnosis. The minister of health further disclosed that the two-day training will include gene expert technology which is a crucial step for diagnosing viral infections.
While we are doing the training for the coronavirus, we are also doing the training in the gene expert technology which is what we are going to use to help us in diagnosing tuberculosis.
Dr. Irving McIntyre
He further disclosed that trainees will be exposed to necessary validation processes after obtaining results from their initial viral tests. He said the validation will verify the actual viral infection after which further tests and treatments may be embarked upon.
Meanwhile, contrary to what the health minister said last week that Dominica is about to become the first Caribbean country to be able to test for coronavirus, facts have emerged that Trinidad and Tobago is now the first and Dominica may emerge as the second if Barbados drags her feet.
As of Monday, when I mentioned it, it wasn’t being done in the Caribbean as yet, so we are well on our way to maybe be the second, because Barbados is still trying to negotiate and to get their PCR testing and their coronavirus testing capacity to begin.
Dr. Irving McIntyre
WHO reported that there are now over 42,000 cases of confirmed coronavirus cases in China with close to 1,400 deaths. The death toll has exceeded that of the SARS epidemic in 2003.
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