There is no crisis, as yet, at the Arima District Health Facility because patients are being sent to other medical institutions but soon they will have no place to go, warns Public Services Association president Watson Duke.
“Patients are being sent to different areas. Soon, they will have no place to go,” he said.
Duke said he has already “paralysed” several departments at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), including the Blood Bank.
He said workers at the Arima Health Facility went home again yesterday shortly after reporting to work and signing the attendance register.
“They come in, sign and leave. If there is any emergency, they deal with it. They are strictly on emergency mode,” he said.
The workers have downed tools at the Arima District Health Facility citing unsafe working conditions.
They are also registering their disapproval of the Government’s delay in paying them a 14 per cent salary increase, Duke said.
He claimed mould from the Arima Health Facility was growing on workers’ hands and skin.
Reminded the Government is in the process of constructing a modern Arima hospital and remodelling the Arima District Health Facility, Duke replied: “The present environment is killing people softly.”
Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan said the Government was trying to source the estimated $1 billion needed to pay all public servants but Duke insisted they did not have to search for it.
“They have money in the Treasury. Take out the money and pay the people,” he said.
Duke said he has shut down the Blood Bank, Central Sterilisation Department and Dental Unit at the EWMSC.
“If the Government wants to play tough, we can play tough too. It’s blow-for-blow. We are saying all the gloves are off,” he said.
Khan earlier said if the workers wished, he could relocate them to safer working conditions at health facilities in Toco and Blanchisseuse.
Duke said the workers had no problem working anywhere. “Khan should get it out of his mind that people should howl and scowl if they have to work in these faraway places,” he added.
Khan told the T&T Guardian he was yet to receive a report on any crisis at the Arima District Health Facility or any other medical institution in the eastern region.
Arima MP Rodger Samuel said he had not heard anything either.
“I am on a walkabout in Arima this morning and, so far, no one has told me anything about problems accessing health services,” he said.
What district health facilities offer
District health facilities are open 24 hours a day, offering accident and emergency and general practice services which include:
• Pharmacy services
• Radiology (X-ray and ultrasound) services
• Dental services for children and adults at some facilities
• Specialists clinics for chronic and/or lifestyle diseases
• Ante-natal and post-natal clinics
• Family planning clinic
• child health clinic
• health promotion fitness programmes.