PORT-OF-SPAIN – THE Health Ministry is advising that non-nationals of Trinidad and Tobago have access to immunization and treatment of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.
The Ministry was forced to issue a release after questions were asked about the public health facilities available to non-nationals especially Venezuelans who have been registered to stay and work here for one year.
The release stated what was available: “Emergency Medical Services including: initial treatment, stabilization and discharge for acute medical conditions such as accidents, injuries, asthma, heart attacks, stroke, diabetic coma; and relevant diagnostics for acute care (using the Canadian Triage & Acuity Scale (CTAS) I-V which is currently the standard assessment tool used in all public health Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments).
It stated: “All Population and Public Health Services including: immunization and treatment of communicable diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), and other high-risk infectious diseases (e.g. Malaria).
“The population is also reminded that, based on long-established policy, persons who have been to Central or South America are excluded from donating blood for a period of six months, due to the circulation of certain endemic diseases within these territories (e.g. Malaria , Chagas Disease).”
