All Public Health Facilities Operational in Aftermath of Earthquake

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is reporting that all public medical facilities remain operational in the aftermath of the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that affected sections of Jamaica on Monday (October 30).

Addressing a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said, based on assessments conducted, several health facilities sustained minor structural damage resulting from the earthquake.

“The North East, Western and Southern Regional Health Authorities have not suffered too many damage in terms of their hard infrastructure. The earthquake was felt, but it wasn’t nearly as intense as on this side, which is the South East [Regional] Health Authority. The majority of the facilities, having been inspected, remain intact, except for a few,” he said.

Dr. Tufton informed that health facilities at Waterford, Greater Portmore and Old Harbour in St. Catherine sustained structural damage.

He indicated that there were minor cracks at the Spanish Town Hospital, but operations were not affected.

Additionally, the Minister said there was no report of facilities in St. Thomas sustaining damage, noting that further inspections will be undertaken.

“In Kingston and St Andrew, five primary-care facilities reported structural damage, mostly minor; but a full assessment is to be done. These are Harbour View, Bull Bay, Mavis Bank, Stony Hill and Edna Manley. Some facilities are still without electricity and water but [that’s] being restored gradually,” he told journalists.

“At St Joseph’s, the damage was to the field hospital; we had to relocate the patients from the main building. The National Chest Hospital, Hope Institute and Sir John Golding (Centre) were not affected. The University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) had some structural damage, but it was primarily the administration building; and they were asked to vacate until a more intense assessment is done,” Dr. Tufton further informed.

He said, so far, there have been no reports of private health facilities sustaining damage.

Meanwhile, the Minister said several public hospitals, such as Bustamante Hospital for Children, Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), and UHWI, have reported increase cases of anxiety at the accident and emergency departments following the earthquake.

Dr. Tufton noted that most cases at the hospitals involved students.

“KPH had one trauma case that fell from a tree with a result of muscular skeletal injury. Bustamante reported injuries in children from nearby primary schools. At 3:00 p.m., 21 children were brought from six primary schools, four were admitted for observation, three with mild head injuries, and one post seizure in a known epileptic patient. All are clinically stable, and 10 have been discharged while others are waiting for the observation period to be completed. Most were anxious [but] had no physical injuries,” he said.

Dr. Tufton added that 14 children were seen at the Spanish Town Hospital accident and emergency department for anxiety, while there were two more earthquake related cases reported at the Linstead Hospital.

He said the Ministry will be providing data to the public to identify incidents of stress and trauma, which usually follow a natural disaster.

Symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest and muscle pain, faintness or light headedness, stomach ache, irritability, and anxiety.

Dr. Tufton urged Jamaicans experiencing these symptoms to consult their doctors.