Debe Health Centre overrun by snakes and scorpions

OROPOUCHE MP Dr Roodal Moonilal has declared that the Debe Health Facility posed a serious health hazard to patients visiting the centre on a daily basis, because of the proliferation of snakes, scorpions and centipedes which live in thick overgrown bushes surrounding the centre. Moonilal told Newsday patients were being bitten and/or stung by the vermin which, from time to time, leave their bushy environment and enter the building. “I am ashamed of the Ministry of Health for their non-intervention in the matter. The Debe Health Centre needs to be urgently refurbished or rebuilt and also properly maintained to avoid any further health and/or safety hazards to both members of staff and the public,” Moonilal said, while he led Newsday on a tour of the facility.

Newsday was also told that a month ago, the resident pharmacist at the centre had received death threats. It was noted that because of the threats, she refused to report to work due to the lack of security personnel at the centre. As a result of the absence of the pharmacist, many patients, especially the elderly, were faced with the dilemma of not having their prescriptions filled out for much needed medicine. Moonilal was made aware of the situation by concerned patients who visited him at his constituency office. He made his way to the centre where he then contacted the pharmacist and encouraged her to return to work. In so doing, Moonilal said he had made arrangements for a police officer to stand guard at the premises, while the pharmacist did her work. Moonilal said arrangements would have to be made for a continuous police presence at the health facility’s compound. He also made reference to contacts made to the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) with regards to the health hazard at the centre. Moonilal said if nothing was done, he would have no choice but to take up protest action outside the offices of the SWRHA, San Fernando. Efforts by Newsday to reach the County Medical Officer for comment proved futile.