Director of Primary Healthcare Services and Chairperson of NEPO Healthcare Subcommittee, Dr. Laura Esprit, has identified physical spacing and proper hygiene among the major challenges that hurricane shelters will face this year. She said confining several families to a restricted space and making them comfortable in the face of the requirements for preventing COVID-19 is a challenge that must be addressed.
“You have to think of spacing, ventilation, room temperature, even the common areas, various families,” Dr. Esprit stated. “There is another aspect they looked at in terms of shelter hygiene standards, so that’s where the bathroom, showers, handwashing stations, kitchen and even the waste disposal that comes into play.”
Health experts and government agencies have been worried about the dual problems of COVID-19 and the hurricane season across the entire Caribbean. Many governments are erecting hurricane shelters to accommodate vulnerable people if any major storms or hurricanes hit, but they are also worried about keeping them protected against coronavirus when sheltering them in public facilities.
Dr. Esprit said hurricane shelter and space management are critical, but managing the situation in the face of the social distancing required to prevent coronavirus infection is herculean. She noted that PAHO has a detailed document which the Dominica Ministry of Health will be utilizing to plan for the situation, but infection prevention and control must be factored into the planning.
“If somebody becomes sick at the shelter how do you isolate them? Where do you isolate them before they are being transferred?” she asked. “How do you detect any case that may be suspected in the context of the shelter and if you have to move them, how do you get it done expeditiously.”
The government however remains committed to the welfare and safety of the people and continues to do all that is necessary to safeguard their health and lives.
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