By Sue-Ann Wayow
HEALTH Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says consultations with residents of Beaucarro Road in Freeport will be done to hear their concerns about the proposed mass storage site for dead bodies in their area.
The minister also said he would be speaking with Tobago’s new Secretary of Health Dr Faith Yisrael concerning Tobago’s increasing death rate that caused the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to install a 20-foot container just to store dead bodies.
That meeting is scheduled for next week Tuesday. Deyalsingh said Central Government will continue to provide support and advice to Tobago and there were ongoing discussions with the medical team and County Medical Officers of Health.
The Health Minister was speaking at Augustus Long Hospital on Christmas Eve.
He said he would be having consultations with the head of the funeral association Keith Belgrove concerning a mass storage site in Freeport for persons who have died as a result of Covid-19.
Belgrove, he said, would be meeting with the residents to discuss their concerns.
Residents of Beaucarro Road where the proposed site is located have raised concerns about such a facility being established in their community.
The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha is also against such a facility stating that it was against the Hindu tradition to store dead bodies and or delay cremation.
Deyalsingh said, “We cannot and will not turn a blind eye and deaf ear to those concerns, they are legitimate.”
Get vaccinated to help healthcare workers
The minister in thanking all healthcare workers and the different departments at the hospitals pleaded yet again with the population to get vaccinated.
“It is my hope that as more and more people get vaccinated, the stress will be alleviated,” he said.
Deyalsingh said, “I want to urge everyone that vaccinations continue at 109 health centres. The mass vax sites will be closed today until Tuesday. Our vaccinators are tired. They want a break and I don’t think we could begrudge them that break for Christmas, but come next week Tuesday we will expect people to come out in their numbers again.”
He also encouraged the population to pay attention to what was occurring globally especially where hospitals and healthcare workers were straining under the devastating impact of the virus that is ever-evolving.
“As we enter the third year as a global community of fighting Covid-19 we are reminded that if we as human beings get tired, the virus is reinventing itself ever so often in the form of mutations, especially in those countries that have low vaccination rates, that allows the virus this opportunity to find fertile soil, to infect others and to mutate and change and to spread around the world.”
He described all the healthcare workers as “unsung and unseen heroes in the background” who were very resilient but tired.
Deyalsingh said, “These unsung and unseen heroes in the background have my deepest appreciation and love. It’s a team effort and this team has performed magnificently. There’s a saying that a chain is as strong as its weakest link well, believe me, we have a strong chain.”
He also advised the population to continue wearing their masks, washing their hands and watching their distance.
“There are some things that whilst not illegal are not advisable in a pandemic,” Deyalsingh said concerning parties and home gatherings.
And he wished everyone a safe, holy and quiet Christmas.
