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VI needs Cuban Docs to reduce risks of COVID-19 community spread- Hon Malone

- said doctors will also train local health care professionals to better perform duties
With some 22 Cuban medical professionals arriving in VI to help with the COVID-19 fight, Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) said their primary mission is to help the territory eliminate risks of COVID-19 community spread in the VI community. Photo: GIS/Facebook
The assistance of the Cubans was also requested in an effort to augment the capacity of the team of Health Care professionals currently at the BVI Health Services Authority, to ensure that the Territory is able to deal with any situation which may occur as Government continues the cautious phased re-opening of the borders. Photo: VINO/File
The assistance of the Cubans was also requested in an effort to augment the capacity of the team of Health Care professionals currently at the BVI Health Services Authority, to ensure that the Territory is able to deal with any situation which may occur as Government continues the cautious phased re-opening of the borders. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - With some 22 Cuban medical professionals arriving in VI to help with the COVID-19 fight, Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) said their primary mission is to help the Territory eliminate risks of COVID-19 community spread.

Currently, the VI has no active reported cases of COVID-19; however, the Sister Island of Jost van Dyke was placed on one week of lockdown on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, following reports that a St Vincent national who lived on the island tested positive for COVID-19 on returning to her country. 

Docs will train local healthcare professionals - Hon Malone 

According to Hon Malone, "The question asked is why do we need the Cuban doctors for instance, for the very reason that we have here... we want to make sure that we reduce any risk of community spread." 

Hon Malone was at the time speaking during a call-in segment on the Tuesday, July 21, 2020, edition of GIS' 'Public Eye'. 

'We want to make sure that the doctors, they will help to also train while they perform their duties," he said while announcing that the Cuban doctors will also be able to help with implementing health protocols. 

According to Hon Malone, eliminating risks will help to discontinue lockdown protocols which have been costing the Territory millions of dollars. 

Eliminating community spread high on the agenda 

He said that until vaccines and different types of medications are found, the VI will be fighting COVID-19 through protocols that limit the risks of community spread.

Hon Malone reminded that the Territory is tourism based, with passengers coming from all over the world, including from high-risk countries like the USA, Italy and the UK. 

"The fact is that once you get a plane... you can move from zero confirmed cases to where you have a planeload full of folks introduced into the society and changes it into full lockdown immediately." 

20 Responses to “VI needs Cuban Docs to reduce risks of COVID-19 community spread- Hon Malone”

  • True (23/07/2020, 19:38) Like (2) Dislike (22) Reply
    So as i said when all this began, the lady that left and went to SVG picked up the virus on the plane in transit the virus tansmeits by entering the body throiugh the mouth, eyes and nose , if it had entered her nose that very day before swabbing then she would of tested positive for the virus, ask the Cubans if you can't follow. In other words stillno COVID-19 after more than 2 months and now yopu want to keep 22 professionalks thatcoukld be better served helping in a corner of the world that they are needed instead of chilling for 14 days doing nothing...
    • Local (23/07/2020, 20:38) Like (27) Dislike (0) Reply
      True please think before you blog. We need all the help and support as possible to train our health care workers the BVI will soon have to open up it's borders and there is a great possiblity that we will have cases so the more doctor's the better.
    • Thoughtful Sailor (24/07/2020, 09:12) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      I believe that is incorrect, and that it takes a couple of days to show up in tests.
    • Navigator (24/07/2020, 11:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You are missing one key fact....for the virus to be in the individual system a couple days must pass; less than 14 days or 14 days
  • please (23/07/2020, 19:38) Like (24) Dislike (2) Reply
    VI needs Cuban docs periodtt!!
  • Cubandaid (23/07/2020, 20:24) Like (7) Dislike (27) Reply
    Pray tell, what are the statistics for COVID 19 infections and deaths in Cuba? If their doctors are so damned great, why haven't they eliminated the spread in their own country?
    • @Cubanaid (25/07/2020, 13:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Cuban doctors and Cuban medical care ranks among the best worldwide.Research and be informed.
  • VG (23/07/2020, 20:30) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes they are better tha n the rest leaves them alone my
    money paying them you too bright
  • T (23/07/2020, 20:49) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    @true. You sound dunce
  • Ghost (23/07/2020, 22:01) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    @ true..do you think you can please give rational thought before you come on here blogging nonsense?..If you don’t have anything constructive to say, please research your facts or be quiet..first of all that lady could have had the virus hibernating in her system for days and was asymptotic or had minor symptoms not requiring her to see a doctor or be hospitalized, and only showed positive because she was tested in Vincy..She could have caught that virus from possibly traveling to Tortola on a boat (if she did go to Tola), or she could have picked it up from another there/jvd as well.. don’t forget though it’s spread by droplets, she could have touched a Contaminated surface And touched her eyes, nose or mouth..yes these doctors could have remained in their country but you have to give thought that our country’s economics is partly “tourism-based” and we have to be prepared for any eventuality health-wise that may arise..I am not saying our health care workers are not trained to handle such events; what I’m saying is is that if we can be more prepared On how to deal with a potential deadly crisis such as this virus then we need all the help we can get.. so do me a favor say thank you and stop blogging nonsense.. further more, give thought to our population size/ our hospitals capability to handle increase cases that requires hospitalization/ which could wiped out
    our population.. sad but true; so we have to be better prepared.More routine testing need to be done.. “No cases” can equate to “No known” cases; there’s a difference..
  • What. (23/07/2020, 23:19) Like (7) Dislike (8) Reply
    If Cuba is an island then them doc should be called island man
  • Tolian (24/07/2020, 00:00) Like (22) Dislike (2) Reply
    Our medical professionals need training. So I am for bringing in the Cubans. Imagine the lady went to hospital many times in the height of covid and was not given a test right away. Doesn't that say something about our medical professionals. So many times persons gets wrong diagnosis here. They treat you for thìngs you do not have and do not treat you for what you have. Borders opening soon and we will need all the help we can get. People out here cursing the store employees and owners when they are told to put on mask and sanitize their hands. We need to get our act in order in this place because COVID is serious. Up to yesterday a pregnant 23 year old in the USVI lost her life to COVID. Get you all act together and take the necessary precautions.
  • Bad Management (24/07/2020, 06:26) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    The Nurses and Doctors are not the Problem, its bad management...Workers walking in late, then want to rush go home, workers are not accountable and responsible, Workers are ignoring their duties., I can tell you some are just their for the money... You have a few Doctors, Nurses, very good and responsible love their Job never call in sick for many years and those are the ones that management treat badly...Bad Management...Now Cuban Doctors and Nurses are good, but its management that will determine how effective they are....They may just turn out to be useless because of bad management...Sad..
    • So correct (24/07/2020, 13:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      All I can see is Management sitting on their A**es in a AC office drawing a huge salary acting like they know how to run a Health Facility. The Doctors and Nurses are the ones in the forefront, they are the ones that is running the Hospital, they are the ones that knows how things are suppose to run. But, Management is blocking that.
  • Thankfull (24/07/2020, 07:27) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    thanks mr minister let them come and train those nurses and doctors we have here they don't know a thing about patient care some are only there for money
  • @cubandaid (24/07/2020, 07:33) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Stop chat nonsense, Cuba has over 2,000 cases but right now have under 40 active also please be reminded Cuba is the largest Caribbean Island with a population of over 11 million so they are doing very well with the virus and there borders are not close. People have to realize that this is not going anywhere soon so we have to live with it just take all the necessary precautions and don’t look down on no country that is being affected.
  • LCS (24/07/2020, 09:26) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Cuban doctors are needed because the Hospital Staff does not want to deal with COVID-19 patients, afraid of catching it. The reason why people are turned away from the hospital and only death is that reality. Is the truth. Let the Cubans do the DIRTY Job. How much is this costing the taxpayers? Hospital Staff has to get on with the program of saving lives.
  • Dont need DR for Community Spread (24/07/2020, 12:40) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    You dont need doctors to reduce community spread. What you need for the science deniers to move to round rock. Nobody thinking virus is here and ballin about having to wear mask when nearly every day I read about someone caught sneaking into bvi. That virus will be here soon if it isnt already (no testing happening here). Wearing a mask and social distancing works but only if people actually practice it. Just look at the idiots in America with their science denying nonsesne. Cases out of control there. Will be same here soon the ayo like to act. Drs cant fix stupid people only sick people.
  • vi (24/07/2020, 15:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    No cases why need doctors for


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