#TurksandCaicos, March 25, 2021 – There is likely nowhere else on planet earth that can boast of having all of its residents vaccinated for Covid-19 but a 1,000 acre private island in the Turks and Caicos – COMO Parrot Cay – can.
It is a small cay soaked in legendary
intrigue and modern day luxuries and very likely the first destination where
every resident is guarded against the debilitating and deadly coronavirus by
inoculation.
“One hundred percent of the residents of
Parrot Cay are fully vaccinated; with both shots. It’s an amazing feeling, it’s an amazing
thing and it’s great for our guests and a great story for Turks (and Caicos)
and we are working hard to make sure that that rest of our team from North and
Provo come along for the ride as well,” said Tapahari Tibble, General Manager
of COMO Parrot Cay.
To simply say that this sliver of paradise
in the Turks and Caicos Islands is world renowned for its exquisite amenities
would be an understatement, but to say that it has gained an edge due to its
Covid vaccine progress is absolutely true.
“Currently we are at about 80 percent
occupancy which is amazing. The people
that are travelling are very respectful of other guests, respectful of staff
and just really just happy to be out and many of them have had vaccinations as
well,” Tibble confirmed that travellers
are coming now almost exclusively from the United States. “Over this COVID period the market got a bit
younger than it was historically because it was the younger generation, that
were prepared to travel regardless. Now
we are seeing the ages go up a bit more and we are seeing the intergenerational
families come back because the vaccination program has really kicked off
properly in the United States as well. I
think there is a potential for by Q4 it could be a record for the country.”
With around 300 staff at Parrot Cay, having
the 204 of the team who are resident on the resort island already vaccinated
reflects a 68 percent vaccination rate.
Guests find this alluring and relieving.
“For guests, the feeling of them coming to
a safe destination with people around them testing and vaccinated, they’re
happy to be out and travelling and really, they see this as a safe destination
and that’s not just Parrot Cay, that’s Turks and Caicos as a whole.”
Guests come into the Turks and Caicos
already PCR-tested for the coronavirus using the TCI Assured travel portal
established jointly by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tourism in
time for a July 22, 2020 reopening of the British overseas territory.
“I think the support by the Government and
the Governor and the UK have been unbelievable.
I come from New Zealand which has been heralded as a place that has done
very, very well and I would actually almost say that a destination like this,
that didn’t close the way New Zealand closed is actually doing better. The people in power have protected jobs and
businesses and that is going a long way to pushing this destination forward in
the entire region,” shared Mr. Tibble who is a second term Vice-President of
the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association.
Protocols on the resort private island
which is a 30-minute boat ride from Providenciales and features rooms, suites
and entire villas are in line with the rest of the country; face masks are
donned, distance is kept and sanitization stations and cleaning protocols
ramped up. Parrot Cay is one of 15
government approved sites around the Turks and Caicos for lateral flow or rapid
antigen testing for the virus.
“Out of the antigen testing that we’ve done
since 26 January we have one person positive.
We have our procedures, quarantine rooms set aside so we had a young
lady test positive from the US. She did
her two weeks quarantine and flew out quickly.
So one out of the numbers that we have had is quite phenomenal and we
are seeing that across the resorts, it’s not just us,” informed the General
Manager.
Grace Bay Medical runs the testing center
for COMO Parrot Cay; around 1,000 tests have been performed since regulations
required it in January for travellers into the United States, the United
Kingdom and Canada.
Following a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, in Trinidad, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to progress towards the start of implementation.
CARPHA fulfilled the IDB’s nine conditions prior to first disbursement, achieving full eligibility on March 15, 2024, and is now eligible for the first disbursement. This milestone achievement in just 3 monthsafter the signing speaks to the commitment of both CARPHA, the Executing Agency, and IDB, the Implementing Entity, toward the regional PF project with the objective of supporting the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) surveillance & early-warning systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and in countries.
Since the signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement and as part of the conditions prior to first disbursement, CARPHA has achieved the following key outputs (i) the development of the PF Project Operations Manual, Multi-annual Execution Plan, Procurement Plan, Financial Plan, Procedure for CARPHA’s Financial Reporting System; (ii) vacancy announcements for two tranches of consultants with the subsequent hiring of five (Technical Coordinator, Financial Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Operations Officer and Project Operations Coordinator) and (iii) the establishment of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) and Project Execution Steering Committee (PESC). The dedicated PEU will be responsible for execution according to its planned timelines, which will be led by the Dr. Lisa Indar, the Project Director (CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division).
CARPHA, as the lead regional public health agency and an expression of Caribbean Cooperation in Health is mandated by its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to support its 26 CARPHA Member States (CMS) in bolstering national systems and coordinating regional response to public health threats. The Agency works closely with regional and international agencies and uses regional mechanisms, surveillance systems, and networks for coordinating its public health response work.
In July 2023, the PF Governing Board announced that CARPHA’s regional entity proposal, entitled ‘Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Strengthened Integrated Early Warning Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Development’ was successfully selected for the first round of financing. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. The three priority areas in the proposal are: (i) Comprehensive disease surveillance and EWS, (ii) Laboratory systems and (iii) Human resources and public health and community workforce capacity.
This project is expected to begin implementation in March 2024, starting off with a blended onboarding session. A Stakeholder Meeting with countries is tentatively planned for July 2024.
CARPHA remains dedicated to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services proudly announces the successful launch of the Electronic Patient Care Report (ePCR), marking a historic milestone in emergency healthcare services. The official unveiling ceremony took place on March 12, 2024 at the Atrium conference room.
In attendance were distinguished dignitaries, including Deputy Premier and Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Honourable Jamell Robinson; Minister of Health and Human Services, Honourable Shaun D. Malcolm; Minister of Tourism, Environment, Maritime, Culture, Heritage and Religious Affairs, Honourable Josephine Connolly; Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services, Honourable Rachel Taylor; the Minister of Immigration and Border Services, Honourable Arlington Musgrove; and the Permanent Secretary of Health, Mrs Desiree Lewis, who recognized the significance of the ePCR system in promoting public health and safety. Their presence underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to investing in healthcare infrastructure and technological advancements to better serve the needs of the population. Thus reaffirming their support for initiatives aimed at improving emergency healthcare services and strengthening the National Emergency Medical Service’s capabilities.
During the launch event, the Minister of Health and Human Services highlighted the transformative impact of the ePCR system on patient care and emergency response efforts. Emphasizing the importance of innovation in healthcare, the Minister expressed gratitude to the dedicated team of professionals who contributed to the development and implementation of the ground breaking technology. The Deputy Premier praised the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the ePCR system, affirming its potential to revolutionize emergency medical services especially the pre-hospital management of citizens and visitors across the country.
The Director of Emergency Medical Services, Mr. Andy Brijmohansingh, spoke passionately about the importance of embracing technology to advance patient care. “The introduction of the Electronic Patient Care Report marks a new chapter in our commitment to providing high-quality emergency medical services,” said Mr Brijmohansingh. “This innovative system empowers our teams with the tools they need to deliver swift and effective care, while ensuring that patient information is accurately captured and securely shared.”
The Electronic Patient Care Report (ePCR) represents a significant advancement in the National Ambulance Service’s mission to deliver efficient and high-quality emergency medical care to citizens across the nation. Developed with cutting-edge technology and meticulous attention to detail, the ePCR system streamlines the documentation process, enhances communication, and ensures the seamless transfer of patient information between emergency responders and healthcare facilities.
The launch of the Electronic Patient Care Report marks a new chapter in the evolution of emergency medical services, promising enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and patient outcomes. With its implementation, the National Emergency Medical Services reaffirms its dedication to providing timely and effective care to individuals in their time of need.
#Haiti#FoodInsecurity, March 25th, 2024– Half of Haiti’s population or nearly 5 million people are classified as food insecure for the period March to June 2024, a projected 50 percent increase up from 45 percent from August 2023 to February 2024. This is according to the Haitian Government in a March 23rd report, as informed by an update from an IPC1 analysis. The factors contributing to the continued decrease in food security, the report says, include the increase of the food basket by 22 percent as of February 2024 and the worsening Violence which disrupts food supply chains.