Wanted: Housing for Cuban doctors

The Health Ministry is advertising for private accommodations for the Cuban doctors it recruited  to alleviate the shortage in the health sector. Six Cuban doctors and 30 nurses arrived in TT on July 24, and an additional 34 doctors and ten nurses are  expected this month. Joining them will be 100 United Nations doctors. The advertisement in yesterday’s Newsday stated that the Ministry is seeking one, two and three bedroom houses or apartments in close proximity to nine health institutions. The list includes Port-of-Spain General Hospital, San Fernando General Hospital, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Arima District Health Facility, Princes Town District Health Facility and Couva District Health Facility.

Interested persons must send full particulars to Joyce Stewart, Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry. Deadline date for submissions is August 19. Health Minister Colm Imbert has said the Ministry received “offers” from small hotels and private residences to accommodate the Cubans. Doctors and nurses quarters across the country are to be “systematically upgraded,” and Imbert said the Ministry intended to use private accommodation for medical personnel to be near their work places. Imbert said the Ministry was using a real estate agent so there would be a mix of public and private accommodation being used.