By Sue-Ann Wayow
THERE have been no deaths in the public healthcare system due to the nationwide power outage on Wednesday.
This is according to Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh who said any reports of deaths as a result of no electricity were untrue as the healthcare was not compromised in the blackout.
Speaking in Parliament on Friday, Deyalsingh said, “There were no deaths in the public healthcare system as a result of the national power outage and there was no compromising of patient care. Members of the public are advised that the established contingency methods of the public health facilities were quickly activated. This ensured that critical care continued to be provided.
“All public hospitals are equipped with emergency backup generators which were utilised. Major hospitals also had on-site adequate diesel storage in the event the generators were needed beyond the usual generator run times.”
The minister said as per protocol electrical supply was prioritised for critical areas such as all Intensive Care Units and the neo-natal ICUs to ensure continuity of care for those at highest risk.
Deyalsingh thanked the chief executive officers of the four regional health authorities in Trinidad for effectively managing in the outage.
When questioned by Member of the Opposition Rudranath Indarsingh why trucks with generators were seen at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope, if generators were available at all public hospitals, Deyalsingh responded that it was part of contingency planning.
He said, “It’s called contingency planning. It’s called following protocols. It’s called preemptive action.”
The Ministry of Health also issued a press release on Friday on the issue echoing the minister’s statements and also said there was no compromise with the storage of vaccines.
The ministry stated, “Additionally there was no impact to national vaccine storage as these sites are also equipped with backup generators and appropriate refrigerators to treat with such incidences. Facilities which store vaccines at the local level (eg. Offices of the County Medical Officers and District Health Facilities (DHF) are also equipped with backup generators for use in the event of a natural disaster or an electrical outage incident.
“In cases where no such equipment exists, the established contingency is to transfer the vaccines to storage facilities with adequate backup electricity supply. Vaccine temperatures are closely monitored and deviation in temperature is noted and reported to the Expanded Programme on Immunization at the Ministry of Health for further action.”
