Pictured at the Thursday press conference at the Ministry of Health on Meeting Street are from left Ernestine Flowers, Nursing Officer II with responsibility for the Disease Surveillance Unit; Dr. Pearl McMillan, Director of Public Health; Dr. Glen Beneby, Chief Medical Officer; Charlene Bain, Administrator of Community Health Services; and Michael Swann, Senior Manager in the Water Quality Unit at the Water and Sewerage Corporation.
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Nassau, Bahamas - Advising that health investigations began in Marathon as
early as
Monday (4th May 2015) and was only interrupted by inclement
weather
on Tuesday, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Glen Beneby told the public
that the government will “leave no stone unturned” in assisting residents of
Marathon impacted by the fuel spill at a Rubis service station on Robinson
Road.
“The Ministry of Health and the Department of Health take
this as a very serious responsibility…we maintain the confidentiality, the
compassion and the sensitivity necessary for the residents in Marathon” said
the CMO as he addressed the media at the Ministry of Health headquarters on
Thursday morning pointing out that officers from the Ministry of Health, the
Department of Environmental Health Services and the Water and Sewerage
Corporation canvassed the community of Marathon as a first step in the health
screening protocol. Outlining the additional steps to be taken in this screening
protocol was Sharlene Bain, community clinics administrator within the Ministry
of Health.
“We will begin examination and laboratory testing of
persons impacted whether through findings from the epidemiological data or for
persons who have present and past medical histories which might be related to
the issues.
“Thirdly, plans are underway to open our clinics on the weekend
to facilitate the needs of the residents impacted and the department will announce
the clinics or clinic.”
The CMO reiterated a previous call for all residents in
the affected areas who use private wells as their water source, to deactivate
them and transfer their water supply to the public water supply system.
Speaking specifically about the testing of the public water
supply in the area was Hydrologist Michael Swann from the Water and Sewerage
Corporation who confirmed that his department has tested the public water in
the Marathon community and confirmed the potability of the public water supply.
Thirteen homes have been canvassed thus far and Dr.
Beneby indicated that the compilation and analysis of health related data from residents
will be available by the end of June.
