The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

NURSES at the Marsh Harbour Clinic in Abaco initiated a sit-out yesterday because of an unresolved mould infestation issue caused by a faulty air-conditioning unit.

A nurse, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Tribune that two nurses are presently off sick from work, reportedly due to lung infections, and have been told they cannot be within close proximity of the clinic.

Meanwhile, she said others also have experienced health-related problems, including severe coughing, believed to be associated with mould infestation.

The nurses also staged a sit-out last week concerning the issue.

There are about seven nurses on staff at the government clinic. Charlene Bain, acting community health administrator at the Department of Public Health, last week confirmed that they were aware of the unresolved maintenance and infrastructure issues, including a faulty air conditioning unit at the clinic, and that steps were being taken at the time to repair it.

Attempts to reach Ms Bain for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.

The clinic is still open to the public who are being seen by doctors. It is understood that a nurse from New Providence has been sent to assist.

Nurses are concerned about working conditions at the clinic, which is exempted from inspection.

“They feel that the working conditions at the clinic are hazardous,” said a reliable source in the medical field. “There is mould and one of the nurses can’t even go inside because of the ill effects she has been getting from it.”

A source from the clinic said the nurses continue to sign in at work but do not work inside the building

“We take a table and sit in the back of the clinic or go out and do home visits. You don’t want to work in the building because of the mould situation,” she said.

“We have been sitting out since the last week in November and we have not heard anything from any of hospital authorities,” said the nurse.

She said that Bahamas Nurses Union officials met last week with nurses in Abaco about the situation.

The Tribune contacted BNU President Jannah Khalfani regarding the concerns of nurses in Abaco but was told that she was busy consulting with the union’s attorney at the time.

The nurse said that the Department of Public Health has been silent on the issue.

“We don’t know what is going on,” she said. “We have two staff who are presently out of the clinic because the epidemiologist told them their lung infections were because of the mould so they have a report from the doctor, and they are unable to come within 10 feet of the building. So we do have a mould problem, but it seems that nobody is interested in fixing it.

“Are we supposed to stay working here? We don’t have a problem with working, but the government is supposed to provide a safe and healthy environment for us to work in. Right now, the Marsh Harbour Clinic is not safe,” the nurse said.