Adequate Medical Supplies Available to Treat Zika Infections

The Ministry of Health is reporting that the country has adequate medical supplies to treat Zika Virus infections.

Director of Health Promotion and Protection, Dr. Sonia Copeland, says the Ministry has stockpiled over two million Paracetamol tablets and 2,000 bottles of liquid medicine.

Additionally, she says there is an adequate supply of immunoglobulin to treat Guillian-Barré syndrome, a condition linked to Zika, which affects the nervous system, often resulting in muscle weakness and, in some instances, paralysis.

She was speaking at a Gender and Zika Public Forum at the New Kingston Conference Centre, on Tuesday, April 12.

Dr. Copeland informed that new ventilators are also being procured to treat Zika-related complications at public hospitals islandwide, adding that non-functional instruments at these institutions will be repaired.

The Director indicated that an Integrated Vector Management Plan has also been developed.

This engagement facilitated the recent acquisition of 10 vehicles, 87 fogging machines, and just over 100 drums of chemicals for use in reducing mosquito prevalence.

“We have to make sure we can control the vector population; so we have brought in adequate chemicals and equipment to appropriately respond. But we have to also be responsible in how we use these chemicals, because of environmental concerns,” Dr. Copeland stated.

The Ministry has also recalled a number of retired public health inspectors to boost its vector management capacity, while training for current health workers has been ramped up and will continue until the end of April.

Dr. Copeland notes that these engagements will significantly boost activities already undertaken to counter the onset of the Zika virus.

These include protocol developed for detection and diagnoses, following a $10 million upgrade of the National Virology Reference Laboratory at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), last month.

To date, Jamaica has recorded six cases of Zika infection, which is characterized by a rash outbreak, fever, conjunctivitis, joint and muscle pain, headache and weakness.

The Gender and Zika Public Forum was hosted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

It facilitated discussions on how the virus impacts women’s health, and national development.