Ceila Morgan and Adrian Frater, Gleaner Editors 
Holmwood Technical's Class Two athlete Audrea Segree being taken off the track on a stretcher after she was spiked in the 4x200m Open at the Gibson Relays at the National Stadium in February. - File
THE MINISTRY of Health has unveiled an elaborate plan in preparation for Cricket World Cup scheduled for March to April 2007. The plan will involve the training of medical and non-medical personnel as well as the upgrading of facilities at some of the country's hospitals.
The Medical Health and Anti-Doping Committee established in 1999 and chaired by Dr. Marion Bullock-Ducasse, director of emergency medical services in the Ministry of Health has been mandated to spearhead the preparations.
In addition to medical services, the ministry will also be focusing on public and international health.
More than 20,000 visitors are expected in the island during the period of the matches.
Emphasising that some participating countries have histories of yellow fever and malaria, Dr. Bullock-Ducasse told The Sunday Gleaner that the Health Ministry had developed an environmental health plan to ensure ongoing and adequate vector, mosquito and rodent control as well as food safety and water quality.
With the start of the hurricane season slated for June 1 and the expected ensuing rainfall, the Ministry's environmental programme is to be intensified in all health regions as of December through February next year and at the start of the matches in March .
At least 18 storms have so far been predicted for this hurricane season which ends in November. Director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, ODPEM Dr Barbara Carby says that Agency is currently working with the Medical Health and Anti-Doping Committee to ensure adequate facilities are in place in the event of a disaster.
HOSPITAL UPGRADING
As part of the preparation for World Cup Cricket, the emergency services at six of the island's hospitals in the corporate area, St Catherine, Trelawny, St Ann and St James are to be upgraded.
They are Kingston Public Hospital and the University Hospital of the West Indies in the Corporate Area, the Spanish Town Hospital in St Catherine, St Anns Bay Hospital in St Ann, Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny and the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James.
At the Falmouth Hospital - the only hospital within a seven mile radius of the stadium being built at Florence Hall in Trelawny - a new operating theatre and emergency department are to be constructed.
"There was planned upgrading but the time frame has been brought in line so that the facilities are ready for Cricket World Cup," Dr. Bullock-Ducasse told the Sunday Gleaner.
She noted that a major focus would be on the provision of radiological equipment to facilitate X-Rays and Computed Tomography, CT scans.
In the meantime, Western Regional Health Authorities (WRHA) official Dr. Shiela Campbell-Forester remains quite hopeful.
"There are some areas in which we would have liked to be more advanced," Dr. Campbell-Forrester, told the Gleaner earlier this week. Nonetheless, we are quite hopeful that we will be ready.?
While noting that things were progressing smoothly in the areas such as the training of health personnel and volunteers, Dr. Campbell-Forrester seemed a little concerned that work is yet to commence on the additional wing earmarked for the Falmouth Hospital, in Trelawny.
In fact, having gotten a chance to see the emergency services at work during the recent cruise ship fire in Montego Bay, the senior medical officer is optimistic that with further training and preparation, the region?s health service, which will primarily revolve around the Falmouth and Cornwall Regional hospitals and Hope Medical Centre, will be of an acceptable standard.
Acting Parish Manager for Trelawny Health Services, Anthony Smikle also seems to be quite optimistic. He was recently quoted as saying that once the upgrading at the Falmouth Hospital is completed, the institution will be able to offer a significantly improved Accident and Emergency service.
At least thirty new ambulances are to be acquired by the Ministry prior to the start of the World Cup matches and deployed to hospitals across the island. In addition Dr. Bullock-Ducasse said the Health Ministry would continue to utilize the services of private ambulance companies.
TRAINING
A total of 1500 health personnel across the country's four health regions are to be trained in various aspects of emergency and mass casualty care.
Training has already begun for about 720 doctors and nurses in basic and advanced life support skills and will continue up to January 2007.
In addition the Ministry is working with the Pan American Health Organization and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management to train a team of personnel in mass casualty management.This will involve participants from the Jamaica Defence Force, Constabulary Force and the Fire Brigade.
According to Dr. Bullock-Ducasse the Ministry's plans are to be fully implemented by January with simulation exercises and rehearsals intensified in February.
