Minister of Health, John Boyce (left), chatting with the US Ambassador to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS, Linda S. Taglialatela after the opening of a Zika Tech Camp Workshop at the Hilton Barbados Resort.
While the threat of airborne, vector borne and zoonotic diseases being brought to this island by persons travelling to Barbados could be a cause of concern, Barbadians need not worry as the country has taken steps to ensure that this does not happens.
This is according to the Minister of Health, John Boyce, who delivered the feature address at the opening of a Zika Tech Camp Workshop on Monday evening at the Hilton Barbados Resort.
He stated that the fight to combat these infectious diseases is one of the most pressing issues that countries face.
“This fight against infectious diseases is one of the most urgent and formidable we face. According to the United Kingdom Department of Aviation and Transportation, one billion passengers travel by air annually with 50 million of these travelling to the developing world. Owing to the increased affordability of air travel and mobility of people, airborne, vector borne and zoonotic diseases transmitted during commercial air travel are important public health challenges.”
With this in mind, it is therefore critical that the relevant stakeholders associated with the aviation industry take extra precautions to ensure that these diseases are not spread from one nation to another or from one individual to another.
“It is of utmost importance that flight crews, port health staff, public health officials and other health care professionals play their important role in managing
infectious diseases transmitted on airlines and sea-craft through familiarity with guidelines provided by local and international authorities.”
The Minister of Health stated that for their part, they make sure that they comply with the International Health Regulations (IHR) regulations.
“Barbados remains committed to the fundamentals of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 which seeks to ensure that designated ports, border crossings and ports of entry provide assessment and if required quarantine of suspected travellers preferably in facilities away from the point of entry. One of the most important
aspects of IHR is the requirement that countries will detectand report events that may constitute a potential public health emergency of international concern.
“The International Health Regulations also stipulate that all ports of entry and their environs must be free of vectors. Our Vector Control Unit therefore ensures that Barbados is compliant with these regulations through its programme of regular inspection and the application of necessary control methods.”