Docs want tighter policies in place

The Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) is calling for the implementation of a mandatory vaccine policy for healthcare workers as the unprecedented rise in COVID-19 cases takes its toll on frontline human resources.

In an assessment of the current situation, BAMP President Dr Lynda Williams reiterated calls for patience with the ‘vaccine hesitant’, but revealed that such leniency could no longer be extended to public health workers.

“While these efforts are ongoing, we reiterate the call for consideration of a policy-driven mandate for vaccination of healthcare workers, which already has a precedent in practice. We believe that our weak, sick and elderly must be protected when seeking care from healthcare providers,” declared Dr Williams.

“We are currently witnessing the progressive dwindling of limited human and physical health resources. Rationalization of services that can be safely offered at public health institutions, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is now a priority and patients must receive clear guidance for their next steps lest we create a tsunami of NCDs and unintended consequences,” the medical practitioner added.

Examining the current restrictions that include a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, Dr Williams contended that changes to these measures should be contingent on more than meagre increases in the country’s vaccination numbers.

“Re-evaluation of set public health measures after two weeks, should take into account many other factors, including the reporting of the true positivity rate in the community, which may be achieved by deducting those PCR tests done by travellers from the denominator. There is also a need to continue to consider the reporting of cumulative incidence, as a trigger for assessing the need for intensification of public health interventions,” contended Williams.

“Vaccination is a key means of reducing transmission of the virus, however, we are keen to point out that a person is not considered to be maximally protected by vaccination until two weeks after the second dose. Therefore, we must play ‘catch-up’ as the rate of spread of the more transmissible variants is well ahead of the rate of double vaccination.”

She also called for a strategic plan to address the rampant community transmission. This should focus on educating citizens about the importance of regular testing for residents in COVID hotspot areas, Government institutions and on the frontlines, Dr Williams noted.

The medical body took aim at the issue of misinformation that seeks to “denigrate the tireless and unstinting efforts of the healthcare workers of Barbados”.   

“Our death rates have remained low because of the quality and excellence of the Barbadian healthcare system and the wonderful professionals who work within it. BAMP salutes every public health practitioner, doctor, nurse, maid, pharmacist, orderly, clerk, administrative official and general worker in our health system and particularly those at the QEH, Harrison Point, other isolation centres and polyclinics.

“Our doctors and nurses are second to none and medicine is a noble and time-honored profession worthy of societal respect. We will not sit idly by while persons of no repute, slander our distinguished medical professionals and we ask these cowards, who hide behind the relative safety and anonymity of the internet, to immediately cease and desist and think about the damage that they are causing to society as a whole.

“To our medical professionals, we advise you to ignore the detractors and fight on. Continue to do all you can in the face of this deadly enemy called COVID-19,” Williams advised. (kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)