Port of Spain, August 17, 2012: 

In the wake of last weekend’s devastating floods, the Ministry of Health has implemented several measures to bring medical relief and increased access to health services to the affected Diego Martin residents: 

• The Ministry is an active member of the Emergency Operating Centre that has been set up at the Diego Martin Regional Corporation to ensure that the mental and physical health needs of the community are adequately addressed

Medical Services:

• Medical teams from the North West Regional Health Authority have been conducting medical assessments daily for persons at the shelters set up at the La Seiva and Diamond Vale Community Centres, and providing medical assistance as required eg replacement of lost medication and relief for minor ailments.
  
• Arrangements have been put in place for the daily transport to nearby health facilities of any persons at these shelters who require follow up treatment
  
• In addition to the normal opening hours of 24hrs at the Accident & Emergency Departments of the St James District Health Facility and the Port of Spain General Hospital, as well as 8am to 4pm at all health centres in the North West region, arrangements have been put in place to offer extended opening hours to residents of the Diego Martin community at the following (2) health facilities: Petit Valley Health Centre now has opening hours of 8am to 9pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the Maraval Health Centre will be open from 8am to 9pm on Wednesdays.
  
• To ensure medical care is accessible to all, medical outreach clinics are being offered via a mobile clinic which has been visiting different locations in Diego Martin and on Sunday August 19th a 1-day clinic will be offered at a location to be advised.  This 1-day clinic will done by the North West Regional Health Authority in conjunction with the Forum of Indian Nationals in Trinidad and Tobago and the Red Cross Society of Trinidad and Tobago.  Transport will be arranged for any persons staying at the established shelters who wish to go to this 1-day clinic.

Public Health Inspectors
The Ministry’s public health inspectors have been deployed to the affected communities since August 11th to provide ongoing environmental, food and water surveillance, and will continue to provide this support to the Diego Martin Regional Corporation.  Areas of focus include:

• Flooded areas;
• State of community shelters;
• Food safety – visits to food establishments affected by the flooding;
• Water supplies;
• Broken cesspits/soak away systems;
• Status of health centres;
• Inter-sectoral collaboration/coordinating with other agencies inclusive of IVCD;
• Temporary dumping sites;
• Overflowing rivers and water courses;
• Dust problems; and
• Health education - The District Public Health Inspectors have scaled up their health education activities for residents with an emphasis on advice on household sanitation and discarding of damaged food stuff.
• Any areas requiring treatment have been referred to the Regional Corporation for remedial action.  

Insect Vector Control Division
Officers of the Insect Vector Control Division have been doing biocidal spraying (disinfection) around the affected areas to discourage the outbreak of disease and illness.  This Biocidal spraying is ongoing with an estimated sixty (60) homes targeted per day.  The Insect Vector Control Division will continue to provide this support to the Diego Martin Regional Corporation as required.