The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.


The United States, with a population in excess of 350 million and first world healthcare systems, is in a relative state of panic after three Ebola cases.

In this country, however, the Ministry of Health wants us to believe that all is well because we have a “42-page report to prove we have been doing something” in case Ebola comes to our shores.

The idea that Ebola related infections coming to the Bahamas being “a remote possibility” as Dr Duane Sands suggested is hyperbole. The possibility is very real.

We seem to forget that there are a number of direct flights from countries in Europe. All it requires is one person to travel from a location in Africa where this virus is, to come to the Bahamas on a direct flight from a European destination (eg Paris to San Salvador) and voila!

I suggest that in order to assess this country’s readiness to deal with a potential case of Ebola, we should ensure that those who drafted this 42-page document, including the Minister of Health, should be among the first to meet, greet and treat the possible case as they arrive.

Let’s see if they can inspire some confidence in our nation’s state of readiness by their example.

I wonder how many of them would volunteer to be among the first responders?

JB

Nassau,

October 20, 2014.