Dr Duane Sands, Minister of Health. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
By Khrisna Russell
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
WHEN anyone is declared dead on Cat Island they are stuffed into a body bag, placed in a bathtub and blanketed with ice to slow the process of decomposition, The Tribune has been told.
Medical practitioners have had to resort to this method because there is no morgue on the island and they fear it will be months or maybe even years before the situation can be rectified, while three medical facilities approved under the previous Christie administration hang in limbo.
This is compounded by the absence of emergency transportation, which is often substituted by the use of residents’ personal vehicles to move the sick.
And on a meagre budget of $50 per clinic per month from the government for these facilities to provide the necessities, including purchasing cleaning products and simple supplies like cups for patients to drink water while they take medication, officials are challenged.
Generators for at least two of Cat Island’s three clinics in Old Bight, Smith’s Bay and Orange Creek have also been reassigned, The Tribune was told, rendering them useless in the event of a power outage.
A group of Ministry of Health officials, who fear retribution, spoke on the condition of anonymity regarding the horrors of Cat Island’s medical facilities.
In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said he was unaware of the morgue situation, adding he would not know of challenges with every single generator at the 100 clinics across the archipelago.
However, he said, there was a morgue issue in Deadman’s Cay, Long Island because the wrong compressor for the air-conditioning system had been ordered.
“These challenges where certain services are not up to date are real problems,” Dr Sands said yesterday when he was contacted. “We have a $5m budget for public health and it costs $3.5m to run Abaco and Exuma’s mini hospital. I have 98 other clinics that I have to run with the balance of the funds.
“Is there a disconnect between demand and need? Absolutely.”
Problems
The group of officials said it is hard to be optimistic about the ongoing situation in Cat Island when issues like the one with the morgue have continued for so long.
“Under the former government there was supposed to be the construction of a mini hospital, but apparently when the government changed it stopped,” one official said. “That new facility was also supposed to have a new morgue. So we have no place to store the dead people. That’s the biggest concern. In the event someone dies, you put ice inside the tub of the person’s house or you bring them to clinic and the tub is filled up with ice until we can get them out.
“When you really look at it you are storing a dead person inside a tub with ice. You have to keep that tub filled at all times. I am thinking about bacteria and sickness being caused by this. The family may also feel like I don’t want to bathe inside this tub when the body goes or even be in that house.
“Cat Island’s healthcare system is not a priority,” the official added. “It saddens you especially considering the political atmosphere. I don’t care which government comes in, the needs of this community and the state of medical care should be a priority.”
Another health official said the level of expertise of medical and nursing staff on the island is phenomenal, but their abilities are hampered by the physical surroundings.
“Since the drug procurement has been upgraded last year it is going well as far as medication goes,” the official said.
“We may be out of some things from time to time, but at another clinic on the island it can usually be found. Supplies-wise they are relatively well supplied but there are issues with more basic stuff like cleaning supplies, drinking water, cups to give the patient a glass of water and to take their medication.
“They send $50 per month per clinic, which is supposed to cover those things but when you live in a place where water on this island is $6.90 for five gallons and a can of Lysol is $9.87 it’s rough. So we have issues with regards to budget allocation and having to spend on the island.
“The Ministry of Education, Civil Aviation and other such agencies the items for them are procured from Nassau and sent to them, but not us.
“In some instance, the clinics might get the odd can of Lysol spray if they are close to another ministry’s facility,” the second official said.
Overhaul
The officials also raised concerns about the structural integrity of the buildings where the clinics are now housed. Outside of the clinic in Old Bight, those in Smith’s Bay and Orange Creek use former nurse and teacher’s cottages.
Regarding Smith’s Bay, one person said: “It isn’t a proper facility. There is no privacy, there is no proper storage of medication, which is put in in a cupboard with no lock or anything. Everything is exposed. The place is really too small to accommodate the population that we have in this area. It’s no place to do nothing really. It’s really too small.”
At the Orange Creek Clinic, there are eroding steps leading up to the building, poor disability access and only one room in the clinic is air-conditioned, another official said.
Dr Sands has repeatedly said the state of health care in the country needs a major overhaul.
In January he told reporters outside of Cabinet that emergency services throughout the country will undergo “major changes very soon,” and decried the “horrible realities” of the public health care system.
Dr Sands said the improvements included completely renovating the Emergency Department at Princess Margaret Hospital, the redeployment of staff, new modern equipment and the creation of satellite urgent care centres at the South Beach and Elizabeth Estates Clinics.
Initially, he said, the cost was expected to be around $2 million, however Dr Sands said because “the needs are so great,” that cost had rocketed to $5m.
Comments
bogart 6 years, 9 months ago
Appalling conditions!!!
Absolutely disgraceful!!! Our loved ones now deceased placed in body nags and put in bathtubs .....with ice because there are no morgue refridgeration......an...$50 dollars per Clinic per month...and in Nassau govt cars alone using more dan $50 gas per week!!!....plenty people should be shame face dis de way our loved departed ones are treated....bathtub....bey yall better try do better.
joeblow 6 years, 9 months ago
Sands has already wasted over $50 million on NHI alone over the past year. The funds are there, they are just being wasted!
The_Oracle 6 years, 9 months ago
As deplorable as this is, as incompetent and inept as it shows Government to be, Is this not just grandstanding to get more tax money to waste? Which idiot thinks for one second anything will change? Government and value for money are concepts completely at odds and incompatible, from bidding to procurement across the board.
SP 6 years, 9 months ago
Stop paying the damn illegal Haitians a $300.00 bonus of our hard earned tax dollars for getting caught and deported and we will have more than enough funds to deal with this issue!
DUH!!!
TalRussell 6 years, 9 months ago
Ma Comrades, no denying this red government inherited serious deficiencies within the public health system and it will take time to brungs resolve to out islands likes Cat Island - never the less - placing and icing dead family members bodies in family home's bathtub should have taken priority over all the jet setting, sleeping fancy hotel rooms and fine dining this prime minister and Imperial red cabinet ministers and government officials have taken around the globe and with their respective delegations in tow - all at the expense public purse. Have they no compassion for Cat islanders? In name Lord saviour, how children's goin bath prepare school with Grandpa all iced over in bathtub?
sheeprunner12 6 years, 9 months ago
That is just ONE example from ONE island ........ check the other 95 clinics ....... some that have already been condemned.
TalRussell 6 years, 9 months ago
Ma Comrade Sheeprunner12, shouldn't come as shock if ice not being used slow the process of decomposition at PMH's morgue - where it was a known fact under Papa Hubert's red regime they actually had placed dead bodies out parking lot in refrigerated trailers and there was no public outcry.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 9 months ago
Well at least provide a 20ft refrigerated container on each Out Island for the use as a morgue ......... that is better than a bath tub full of ice!!!!!!
BONEFISH 6 years, 9 months ago
i say to myself always Bahamians don't live in the Bahamas.They live pile up like sardines in Nassau (New Providence) and Freeport. If they travel to some of the family islands they will be amaze at the hardships their fellow bahamians endure.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 9 months ago
Almost EVERY Out Island government facility for almost every Department will have similar complaints ........... and in many cases, the Government is paying exorbitant rental fees to PEPs for use of public offices ......... This whole situation raises serious concerns over how the Central Government must continue to operate offices in these islands ........ or consider how best to decentralize this whole expensive, complicated mess.
TalRussell 6 years, 9 months ago
Ma Comrades, isn't it common practice bury the dead on same day death on out islands. I'd suggest most to near all island settlements lack any form of a morgue. We have islands raking in millions dollars monthly in tourism dollars and they don't even have a damn nurse on island - some them islands have over 100 native millionaires living on them full time and in some cases operating highly profitable enterprises. What kind property taxes are these rich islanders paying into the public purse for the high value properties they live on?
Chucky 6 years, 9 months ago
Once again we prove the Bahamas is a complete disgrace.
"better in the Bahamas", biggest joke in the world; unless dirty islands with expensive low quality food, service and stuff are your thing. And definitely don't get sick, because we be 3rd world.
People need to hang their heads in shame , and keep them there until we actually do something to be proud of.
A shiny airport, when we don't have healthcare, just plain retarded. Did someone actually think that if we build a new airport people will say, lets go to the Bahamas / they have a nice airport in New Providence.
What a joke we are.
John 6 years, 9 months ago
Does anyone know who was the representative for that area before May 10 Elections.
Porcupine 6 years, 9 months ago
Same on Mangrove Cay, Andros. Same complaints. When a person dies at home, it is often a police matter. Therefore, the body must go to Nassau for an autopsy. Family members must run around trying to find ice. Much needed renovations for our clinic were begun, then stopped after the election. Again, a well trained staff, just beat down and tired of complaining. Inexcusable. Absolutely inexcusable. our MP and other officials. Not a peep. Non-existent representation. A national disgrace that needs international attention. Sands and the rest of them just don't get it.
TigerB 6 years, 9 months ago
Well its shows that successive governments have poured all the money into Nassau and in part , Freeport. Abaco is almost totally independent of the government, seems those family islands doesn't matter except some investor comes along and they put in place the necessary things for that islands to have modern facilities. No wonder people leave and go to Nassau. I see Chester Cooper complaining about Ragged Island, heck Ill be surprise if that every comes back on stream... only a fool will want to be a commissioner of police or a Prime Minister. I wish them well
joeblow 6 years, 9 months ago
Was this the case when Dr Sands was shadow Minister of Health before the elections? If so why didn't he make a point of this back then?
ConcernedBahamian 6 years, 9 months ago
2014/15 BUDGET COMMUNICATION
For Cat Island, Mr. Speaker
By this time next year, when liberalization is well underway and in reliance on the IT platforms that will be created, I see radiology being performed in the a Mini Hospital in The Bahamas, read and diagnosed by physicians in The Bahamas and at the University of Miami, decisions being made in Miami and The Bahamas about what treatment and where. So it will be possible for a patient in Cat Island to be diagnosed in Nassau or Miami and then decisions be made about treatment.
DEBATE ON THE ANNUAL BUDGET: FISCAL YEAR 2015/2016
For Cat Island, Mr. Speaker
At Orange Creek, the entire building, which now houses the clinic and nurse’s residence will be converted into clinic space. All of the interior walls of the section, which now houses the nurse, will be demolished to accommodate the addition of trauma, dental, examination, pharmacy/dispensary, treatment rooms, a doctor’s office, public waiting area, a staff lounge, restrooms, and small kitchen. A contract for demolition works is being negotiated, floor plans are nearing completion, the scope of works is being costed, and work will begin during this fiscal period.
At Smith’s Bay, minor renovations are planned for the temporary health clinic on top of the hill so as to allow more storage space for records and supplies and facilitate electrical and air conditioning upgrades. The original health clinic is in poor physical condition.
Work on this clinic will be complete 8 – 14 months from commencement. Contracts for demolition and construction are now being negotiated.
At Bain’s Town in South Cat Island, site elements and sketches for the clinic were obtained with a view to carrying out major internal and external repairs. The building spaces require redesigning. My Ministry continues to work with the Ministry of Health to finalise the plans. In the meanwhile a demolition contract is being negotiated to advance the project.
DEBATE ON THE ANNUAL BUDGET: FISCAL YEAR 2016/2017
For Cat Island, Mr. Speaker
Comprehensive infrastructural developments are afoot. We have constructed over 4,500 feet of seawall and carried out sand seal repair works to the roadway throughout the island and works are ongoing.
We are cooperating with the Ministry of Health to complete assessments of the health infrastructure for the island. Government has already approved the issuance of a contract to demolish the Clinic at Orange Creek and construct a new one and also for a new clinic at Old Bight.
The other clinic at Smith’s Bay has been targeted for upgrading and a contract will issue shortly. These upgrades also assist the process of Health System Strengthening in preparation for NHI.
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