To avoid fatigue, the Ministry of Health has begun replacing it’s medical staff in the severely affected areas.
Minister for Health and Medical Services, Jone Usamate says their doctors and nurses have been on duty since Cyclone Winston struck.
Usamate says they have started to dispatch doctors and nurses to these areas to ensure continuous medical services are provided.
“We know a lot of them are under extreme stress. So some of them we need to pull them out of where they are working and get others to go in. Replacements so we cant continue to provide the service. So we go in and we see that they are fatigued and we move them out. Replacements go in after a few days. We need to make sure we look after them. If you don’t look after your staff they won’t be able to deliver the service well. Opportunity to rest,” revealed Usamate.
Usamate adds the support shown by international agencies have been vital as well.
“We are very much thankful for the assistance we have received from the other teams. It’s not only the staff of the Ministry of Health but also teams from Australia, New Zealand and some from the US and also our local facilities. Private medical facilities. They have also sent their staff. Other doctors have flown in from other countries to relieve workers here at CWM so these workers can go out and help out in the rural stations,” added the Minister for Health and Medical Services.