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Contact:
Primus Hutchinson
Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - A leading health official has appealed to the
media to play a more proactive role on educating the nation regarding the Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS. Speaking at a specially convened press
conference by the Ministry of Health at the Government Information Service, to
discuss the Ministry’s response to the outbreak of SARS around the world, Chef
Medical Officer, Dr. Martin Didier, said in a small island state like St. Lucia,
SARS can have a ripple effect and therefore it must be addressed at all levels
including the media.
According to Dr. Didier, fear and panic has been quite prominent in contributing
to the spread of the virus. Dr. Didier indicated that, health care workers are
the first group of people who are exposed to those infected with SARS and
therefore are at the greatest risk. Additionally the general public must be
protected, since SARS has had disastrous consequences economically in the
countries it has affected so far.
“And certainly it behoves us at all levels, not only in the clinical area and in
the hospital area; when I say at all levels I mean including the media, because
part of the treatment of SARS is education. It has been said that one of the
greatest things that has been known to spread SARS is fear and panic. It means
that people do things that they would not do under ordinary circumstances,” said
Didier.
Minister for Health, Honourable Damian Greaves explained that a number of
important measures have been instituted to prepare the country in case of a SARS
outbreak. Mr. Greaves stated that among the measures already in place are
isolation wards at both Victoria and St. Jude hospitals for patients suspected
of contracting SARS. According to Minister Greaves, screening procedures have
been put in place at the various ports of entry and health officials and workers
are constantly undergoing education exercises, all in preparation for any
possible outbreak of the SARS virus.
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