Health Ministry Sets Up Emergency Operation Centre

Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, is appealing to persons within Tivoli Gardens in Kingston to call the Ministry’s emergency operation centre if they or someone they know is in need of emergency medical assistance.
Addressing a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister today (May 25), Mr. Spencer informed that several persons claiming to be inside the community, have called the various media houses with reports of injured people needing attention. However, he is appealing for these calls to be made to the operations centre so that help can be dispatched to the injured.
“Going into Tivoli, we would need police escort and ambulances, so all those who are in Tivoli and need transportation can call us and we will be there,” he stated.
The centre is currently based at the Bustamante Hospital for Children and can be reached through the hospital at 926-5721 or 968-0300.
Meanwhile, Mr. Spencer commended the health professionals, many of whom he said, had been working 48-hour shifts.
He also gave an update on the emergency measures, which have been activated since the unrest began in downtown Kingston. He said Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) and Victoria Jubilee are only accepting emergency cases and that the Ministry has mapped out a special route for transporting staff to and from the hospitals.
He is appealing to persons in the vicinity of the KPH not to engage in any actions, which would hamper the institution’s ability to perform its function effectively.
“KPH has come under tremendous fire.so I’m appealing to those people please protect KPH. It’s the really last serving hospital.. for trauma in Jamaica and it’s doing extremely well,” he urged.