Recently Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Services (CPS) met with the Customs Department and Coast Guard to discuss preparations related to the Ebola virus disease (EVD).
Customs and the Coast Guard were appraised about the Sint Maarten Ebola Preparedness Plan being worked on by Ministry VSA, the travel ban that was officially announced by the Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever on Monday, October 27, as well as the various screening layers that exist prior to a person entering country Sint Maarten.
The levels of screening entail, exit screening measures from countries affected by Ebola; entry screening measures in the United States of America and Europe and Sint Maarten.
The Customs Department has drafted its response plan since the meeting was held at the end of October and a draft a preparedness plan along with what resources would be required is being awaited from the Coast Guard for CPS to review with respect to how their respective agency would deal with a suspect Ebola case.
All stakeholders were updated about the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) protocols that are in place for cruise passengers and crew.
Another issue touched upon during the meeting was the inspection of shipping manifest prior to a vessel docking at one of the country’s ports.
Present for the meeting were representatives from SXM Airport, Port St. Maarten, Health Inspectorate, Public Health Department, Cabinet of Minister VSA, CPS, Risk Communications Team, Department of Communication, Ambulance, Civil and Shipping Inspectorate.
Ministry VSA monitors on-going developments in West Africa with respect to the EVD outbreak on a daily basis outbreak which has infected 14.413 persons, and 5.177 have died, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) as of 11 November.