A Barbadian businesswoman has made an impassioned plea for the country to accept the group of 90 Nigerian students who want to study at the Barbados Community College (BCC), insisting they are Ebola-free.
Donna St Hill said that not only have they already been tested, but they will undergo further checks before arriving in Barbados and will probably be the most medically certified individuals to come into the island.
“Of all the people that will land in this country, they are the ones that will have a medical certificate that they have no diseases. No other visitors will land with that,” said St Hill who is in a venture to bring the Nigerians to Barbados for hospitality training as part of an economic diversification programme with the Nigerian Delta State where the prospective BCC students live.
“Some two or three days before they travel, they will do the specific EVD [Ebola virus disease] check on our healthy students who have been nowhere near an outbreak,” she added, noting that the EVD test was an added precaution to satisfy the people of Barbados.
“We are going to go one step further . . . so that will prove definitively. So we don’t want them to come and have to experience any stigma. We don’t want people to be afraid they can’t deal with them.”
St Hill was speaking during the question segment of a presentation on Ebola, hosted by the Barbados Drug Service at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre last night.
The Nigerians were due to arrive last month to begin their one-year studies in hospitality management. However, Government postponed their arrival until next January so that an isolation unit could first be set up for anyone testing positive for the disease that is rapidly spreading through West Africa.
Minister of Education Ronald Jones insisted last weekend that while there is no “closed-door policy”, precautions need to be taken to prevent the potentially deadly virus from reaching this country’s shores.
Appealing to Barbadians not to assume that all Africans were suspected Ebola victims, St Hill said: “It is very unfortunate that the Nigerian students, who are part of a programme my company is doing with one state in Nigeria, have sort of become synonymous with Ebola.”
She contended that the Delta State has some of the best medical care and facilities in Nigeria and “if you are going to have any Nigerians, these are the ones you want”.
“There are 200 million Nigerians and everybody is not ill,” St Hill insisted.
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So the rest of the world is worried about the Ebola epidemic spreading and larger countries are even considering closing their borders to persons from the affected regions. But little foolish Barbados should accept these people and risk an epidemic that we are ill equipped to handle just because some local interest worried about losing the fees these students were going to pay. SMH
So the rest of the world is worried about the Ebola epidemic spreading and larger countries are even considering closing their borders to persons from the affected regions. But little foolish Barbados should accept these people and risk an epidemic that we are ill equipped to handle just because some local interest worried about losing the fees these students were going to pay. SMH
Prevention is better than cure
Prevention is better than cure
Now, this may sound harsh and bad minded, but we small people have our families to look after to take such risks. Wunna so with the money can afford to take those risks. Others gotta depend on our failing health care system.
Now, this may sound harsh and bad minded, but we small people have our families to look after to take such risks. Wunna so with the money can afford to take those risks. Others gotta depend on our failing health care system.
Rather safe than sorry…stay part wunna is and leff out this rock known as bim. You got $$$ send them some place else
Rather safe than sorry…stay part wunna is and leff out this rock known as bim. You got $$$ send them some place else
NOT BOUT HEY !!!
NOT BOUT HEY !!!
Ok so they get tested 3 days before departure… Will they be quarantined rite after and until departure??? Look let them stand cross there hear!!?? Furthermore They coming from a country where if ya don’t have $$$ the hospitals turn you away and leave you to dead…surely those Nigerian students are used to harshness so they will understand why we don’t want them here. Sus croixxxxx we got enuff bad nasty diseases here already we don’t need Ebola too.
Ok so they get tested 3 days before departure… Will they be quarantined rite after and until departure??? Look let them stand cross there hear!!?? Furthermore They coming from a country where if ya don’t have $$$ the hospitals turn you away and leave you to dead…surely those Nigerian students are used to harshness so they will understand why we don’t want them here. Sus croixxxxx we got enuff bad nasty diseases here already we don’t need Ebola too.
Stupes….she could only be a c**t
Stupes….she could only be a c**t
Barbados could be inviting big problems for Barbados and the neighboring islands.
Barbados could be inviting big problems for Barbados and the neighboring islands.
America in not doing this and they have money and resources to fight Ebola . We are taking about a huge health crisis that could also be financially devastating.
America in not doing this and they have money and resources to fight Ebola . We are taking about a huge health crisis that could also be financially devastating.
Seriously?
Seriously?
WHAT does She know, I wonder What is in it For Her,, I wonder What She has To Lose If They Are Not allowed into Our Little island ?
WHAT does She know, I wonder What is in it For Her,, I wonder What She has To Lose If They Are Not allowed into Our Little island ?
They would need to be quarantine for three weeks to ensure incubation period of the virus is over then be re tested.
Why are they studying hospitality? I don’t think they will need that in Nigeria after the bad press of Ebola. I would be more viable to take a medical Nursing Degree or Doctorate.
Bless these student but Barbados is a small population if Ebola spread there it would be detrimental.
Accepted them but take proper cautions.
They would need to be quarantine for three weeks to ensure incubation period of the virus is over then be re tested.
Why are they studying hospitality? I don’t think they will need that in Nigeria after the bad press of Ebola. I would be more viable to take a medical Nursing Degree or Doctorate.
Bless these student but Barbados is a small population if Ebola spread there it would be detrimental.
Accepted them but take proper cautions.
So she want 90 students to come here putting the whole of Barbados at risk. Ppl talking bout they are human too so we in Barbados ain’t humans should we put our families in harms way. Who say that after they got tested someone happen to contract it what will happen to this little rock. She talking bout them coming from middle class families. Well let me tell ya let d middle class and d top class come together and try to help them low class cause dem ain’t care bout dem own so if we get infected u think them would care bout we?
This woman Donna St Hill like she crazy yah she should keep Let them stay in AFRICA ppl hay suffering already why you don’t help them Donna St Hill .stupseeeeeeeeee
So she want 90 students to come here putting the whole of Barbados at risk. Ppl talking bout they are human too so we in Barbados ain’t humans should we put our families in harms way. Who say that after they got tested someone happen to contract it what will happen to this little rock. She talking bout them coming from middle class families. Well let me tell ya let d middle class and d top class come together and try to help them low class cause dem ain’t care bout dem own so if we get infected u think them would care bout we?
This woman Donna St Hill like she crazy yah she should keep Let them stay in AFRICA ppl hay suffering already why you don’t help them Donna St Hill .stupseeeeeeeeee
I do not trust Nigerian authorities to be honest about test results. I understand the loss for Ms. St.Hill, but as someone in the Heath arena I would prefer not to have this issue if it is avoidable. Do you know how quickly flu, gastro spreads here. And what about those who treat themselves until they have extreme symptoms? Let the authorities focus on health and not money.
I do not trust Nigerian authorities to be honest about test results. I understand the loss for Ms. St.Hill, but as someone in the Heath arena I would prefer not to have this issue if it is avoidable. Do you know how quickly flu, gastro spreads here. And what about those who treat themselves until they have extreme symptoms? Let the authorities focus on health and not money.
It’s interesting to see all these comments and it’s a good thing that everyone has their country’s and families best interest at heart. But what about the nigerians and other african that have entered Barbados in the past 2 months at the height of the Ebola outbreak and as recent as 3 weeks ago. No health certificates no checks when they entered Barbados and some of them were from Lagos where the outbreak originated but because persons didn’t know it was no problem
It’s interesting to see all these comments and it’s a good thing that everyone has their country’s and families best interest at heart. But what about the nigerians and other african that have entered Barbados in the past 2 months at the height of the Ebola outbreak and as recent as 3 weeks ago. No health certificates no checks when they entered Barbados and some of them were from Lagos where the outbreak originated but because persons didn’t know it was no problem
While I appreciate the good intentions of the organiser, I can assure you, hand-on-bible, that in Nigeria, you can buy a Phd. for US$500; a Masters, for $100; an airline pilot’s “certification” for $50; a drivers’ license for $5; and ( I am only guessing here) right now, a certification of a “negative’ on ebola…might be going a bit high…for about $2…(up from fifty-cents, owing to “current demand”).
I also can assure you, that when you are travelling, and have your airline ticket in hand, with passport, and you stand in front of the airline rep at the check-in counter, you will not even get a glance from the staff, unless she might first spot the naira-fifty note…peeeping-out discreetly from your ticket. Yes, it’s called “DASH”. Yes, it’s the ONLY COUNTRY IN GOD’S WORLD, WHERE YOU are allowed an ‘official deduction” for such “expenses” when completing your income-tax form. I joke you not.
Hence, our authorities are picking up a loaded gun, on this one. Question is…where shall they point it? Perhaps, better look inside the barrel…first…then pull?
While I appreciate the good intentions of the organiser, I can assure you, hand-on-bible, that in Nigeria, you can buy a Phd. for US$500; a Masters, for $100; an airline pilot’s “certification” for $50; a drivers’ license for $5; and ( I am only guessing here) right now, a certification of a “negative’ on ebola…might be going a bit high…for about $2…(up from fifty-cents, owing to “current demand”).
I also can assure you, that when you are travelling, and have your airline ticket in hand, with passport, and you stand in front of the airline rep at the check-in counter, you will not even get a glance from the staff, unless she might first spot the naira-fifty note…peeeping-out discreetly from your ticket. Yes, it’s called “DASH”. Yes, it’s the ONLY COUNTRY IN GOD’S WORLD, WHERE YOU are allowed an ‘official deduction” for such “expenses” when completing your income-tax form. I joke you not.
Hence, our authorities are picking up a loaded gun, on this one. Question is…where shall they point it? Perhaps, better look inside the barrel…first…then pull?
I applaud the Government of Barbados on the decision taken to delay the arrival of the students. Based on recommendations from WHO, while there is not an outright travel ban to Ebola affected countries, there is caution to be had and only essential travel is advised. The student’s travel is not essential. As there is caution on the entry/travel to an ebola affected country, there should also be caution taken on the travel from any ebola affected country. The delay of the arrival of the students serves not only to protect the local population but also the students themselves, should there be any backlash, in the event one of them tested positive after arrival to the island.
Ms. St. Hill should respect the decision taken by the medical experts and the Government of Barbados.
I applaud the Government of Barbados on the decision taken to delay the arrival of the students. Based on recommendations from WHO, while there is not an outright travel ban to Ebola affected countries, there is caution to be had and only essential travel is advised. The student’s travel is not essential. As there is caution on the entry/travel to an ebola affected country, there should also be caution taken on the travel from any ebola affected country. The delay of the arrival of the students serves not only to protect the local population but also the students themselves, should there be any backlash, in the event one of them tested positive after arrival to the island.
Ms. St. Hill should respect the decision taken by the medical experts and the Government of Barbados.
I am appalled at the response of the few who commented. As long as the students have been tested and certified ebola free by a reputable testing centre, I see no reason to deny them entry. Even if we have to quarentine them for a couple of weeks to be on the safe side. We sure need the foriegn exchangeb but not at the expense of an ebola outbreak.
I am appalled at the response of the few who commented. As long as the students have been tested and certified ebola free by a reputable testing centre, I see no reason to deny them entry. Even if we have to quarentine them for a couple of weeks to be on the safe side. We sure need the foriegn exchangeb but not at the expense of an ebola outbreak.
Ms. St. Hill, I do appreciate your efforts to assist the development of these Nigerian students and their endeavors. However it is evident that this venture can prove financially beneficial to you but very catastrophic for the public of Barbados.
I am pleading to you and the Government of Barbados; in light of knowing the benefit of this venture to you and the economy of the country; at this time to postpone until further notice, preferably when the Ebola virus is under control. Please protect the people of Barbados!
Ms. St. Hill, I do appreciate your efforts to assist the development of these Nigerian students and their endeavors. However it is evident that this venture can prove financially beneficial to you but very catastrophic for the public of Barbados.
I am pleading to you and the Government of Barbados; in light of knowing the benefit of this venture to you and the economy of the country; at this time to postpone until further notice, preferably when the Ebola virus is under control. Please protect the people of Barbados!
If one person in Barbados come down with that disease, I hope the government have the resources to help that person, and did Barbados government contacted the bigger countries like Canada and the US, and find out if they will send some of the medicine down here? all these steps should be in place. I don’t care what anyone say, the disease can spread quickly, and people will suffer. I ran away when I hear someone sneeze or cough, everyone is paranoid these days.
If one person in Barbados come down with that disease, I hope the government have the resources to help that person, and did Barbados government contacted the bigger countries like Canada and the US, and find out if they will send some of the medicine down here? all these steps should be in place. I don’t care what anyone say, the disease can spread quickly, and people will suffer. I ran away when I hear someone sneeze or cough, everyone is paranoid these days.