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The North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) said the Department of Health and all RHAs remain committed to protecting the health and well-being of their staff and patients during the covid19 pandemic.
Sunday’s statement came out a day after the TT Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) said nurses were not ready to deal with spikes in covid19.
TTRNA chairman Idi Stuart said its members felt abandoned by the government during the pandemic.
In its statement, the NCRHA said that since the start of the pandemic last March, the RHAs and the ministry have proactively managed the national public health response to the pandemic by implementing strategies to ensure the reliability of the system. health care to provide health care to the population.
The authority said this includes the operationalization of the parallel health system; significant investment in the well-being of staff (especially frontline health workers); investing in training, improving technology and infrastructure, as well as the availability and easy access to a number of effective covid19 vaccines approved by the WHO (World Health Organization).
He said that over the past few months, RHAs “have engaged individually and collectively in a range of human resource building activities, including training, to ensure staff are prepared at the highest level. of international competence “.
RHA’s partnership with higher education institutions such as the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC), the authority continued, has enabled hundreds of nurses to be trained in intensive care management and respiratory disease management.
“Continuing education programs such as basic and advanced life support and first aid skills, respiratory therapy, donning and dressing, are strategically integrated into the different teaching schedules of frontline workers.
“These programs have helped empower staff to perform more effectively, boost morale, build determination and commitment, and build effective teams.
The authority said initiatives such as the staff accommodation program have been expanded.
“This initiative provides free and comfortable accommodation for all staff during the pandemic and state of emergency to ensure the safety and comfort of staff. “
The NCRHA said this program is complemented by a shuttle service and the provision of meals, where appropriate.
“Substantial resources have been invested in dedicated mental health services to support staff. “
He said dedicated daily care is provided through telehealth, along with the regular provision of electronic advice on the most effective ways to deal with stress.
Nursing Improvement Committees have been established in some regional health authorities to strengthen communication between nurses and between nurses and management to ensure prompt responses to questions affecting care and affecting the staff.
On the issue of personal protective equipment (PPE), the authority said: “Coverage is approximately eight to ten months, so staff have sufficient PPE adequate for their safety in accordance with prevention protocols. and infection control (IPC).
“Staff are also regularly trained in the effective use of the PPE and IPC protocols.”
The NCRHA said the ministry and the RHAs stand in solidarity with all of their nurses.
“We salute all of our front line staff who continue to provide yeoman service to the people of TT.
“We continue to use strategies and develop new approaches to meet and treat the needs of our nurses.
“Immunizing all of our nurses remains a priority for their own safety and protection.”
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