Health workers at Palms decry lack of gear to guard against COVID-19

As COVID-19 sweeps across the globe, nurses and workers at the Palms Geriatric Home in Brickdam, Georgetown, have decried the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the facility.
According to the workers, they are being confronted by difficult situations but are desirous of remaining safe while performing their duties.
Just recently, the Social Protection Ministry implement measures at various local care centres to protect “vulnerable” groups from contracting the dreaded novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Also, Director of Social Services, Wentworth Tanner informed the media of the Ministry’s reviewed and implemented measures.
“We have enforced restriction of visitation at all care centres. Staff and visitors must sanitise before entering facilities; routine screening of staff reporting for duty, that is, taking and documenting their temperature by a nurse, medic or doctor on the staff,” he said.
The Director told the DPI that medical, administrative, and auxiliary staff would be issued with protective equipment such as gloves and masks, and, where necessary, aprons, long boots, and overalls, while administrators should ensure that their staff is properly dressed and outfitted in their protective gears while on duty.
“There is an updated stock inventory of critical stock items, especially cleaning and janitorial supplies…. critical food items must be submitted by the storekeepers to administrators on Mondays and Wednesdays to ensure that stock does not fall below minimum stock levels,” he noted.
However, according to the nurses, the only gears they have received so far are masks and gloves which is simply not enough. They told this publication that persons are not even screened before entering the compound.
“We are fearful for our lives because what we were promised is not being fulfilled. The least they can do for us is to ensure that persons are properly screened before coming into this place”, one of the nurses said.
As Guyana steps up its efforts to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), several Ministries and Government agencies have implemented preventative measures to assist in the management of the virus.
On March 31, the Social Protection Ministry suspended visitation to several senior citizens’ homes, which included the Palms Geriatric Home in Brickdam.
Visits to the Night Shelter, the Hugo Chavez Rehabilitation Centre and Reintegration Centre and the New Opportunity Corps were also suspended amid the coronavirus outbreak.