Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.
The nation of Barbados via its Foreign Affairs arm, will be getting some key assistance from other countries, in better handling the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said on Friday that Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. Jerome Walcott had been in consultation with a number of foreign governments, to secure key personnel and equipment to assist in the fight against COVID-19, given the recent rise in cases.
“I want to report to you that the Minister of Foreign Affairs-Minister Walcott has been exceptionally busy this week on my behalf, speaking to a number of foreign governments. We have been in contact with the Cuban government and we have requested a number of additional doctors and specialists, in particular- two communicable disease specialists, two respiratory disease specialists, two intensive care specialists, two anaesthesiologists, one respiratory therapist and for the lab, we have also requested four lab technicians who speak English, to be able to assist us in the lab at the (Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory),” Mottley revealed.
“At the same time (Health) Minister (Jeffrey) Bostic has been in contact with the Pan American Health Organisation, who has committed to sending in short order a virologist who will continue to train persons to be able to ensure that we can provide respite for those who are working exceptionally long hours at the lab,” Mottley further noted.
She also revealed that Minister Bostic has also been in deep discussions with the Chinese government with respect to the purchase of an additional mobile lab, which will considerably boost this island's capacity beyond the number of machines and personnel already had at the lab.
“That mobile lab is a combination of persons and robotics, so it is not as labour intensive. My understanding is that one such will become available on the 20th of January and they are now discussing the logistics of transport and how best to get it here, as a result of the fact that it is quite literally a truck outfitted with all of the mobile apparatus that we need,” Mottley said (RSM)