The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A senior Ministry of Health official yesterday said the Zika outbreak had given it “a golden moment” to demonstrate its capabilities prior to National Health Insurance’s (NHI) introduction.

Dr Glen Beneby, the chief medical officer, said:

“This gives us with some very positive opportunities to work with our partners, to work with the Ministry  of Education and all of the other ministries.

“We in the Ministry of Health overnight will not have all of the manpower that we need, but fortunately many of the resources and manpower can be co-opted just by good practices and doing those things which will help us to mitigate against the spread of the virus.”

Dr Beneby added: “Together as we prepare for universal health care (UHC), this gives us a golden moment where we will be able to demonstrate very carefully the things that we can do.

“It will become very clear to the Bahamian people how important it is for us to work together as a community because by dealing with the Zika virus, unfortunate as it may be, it will became very clear how you can get positive results when the community steps forward and takes care of their responsibilities.”

Health officials have reported that as of August 30 there were eight confirmed Zika cases in New Providence. Officials have  also said they are still receiving results associated with the 83 suspected cases reported last month.

The Bahamas reported an initial case of the virus on August 10 in a man who had recently travelled to Jamaica. The man is a resident of Pinewood Gardens.

Zika, which has been linked microcephaly in newborn babies, can be transmitted through sex.