Tony Gibbs, who conducted a vulnerability study of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in 1998, told Barbados TODAY that the hospital remains insufficiently safe, particularly regarding fire protection and roofing and suspended floor slabs.

But the QEH top brass countered that a recent PAHO Safe Hospital study index gave the state-owned healthcare facility a B rating.

 “The index is the result of an all-encompassing study, which includes a review of fire potential and fire protection systems,” Chief Executive Officer Neil Clark told Barbados TODAY.

The 600-bed Martindale’s Road facility, which replaced the General Hospital after 120 years, marks its 60th anniversary in November.

Gibbs revealed that his 1998 study had proposed short-term measures to be implemented within 12 months, at an estimated cost of $1 million.

“They did nothing,” he said, expressing frustration at the lack of action. “The short-term measures would have cost in 1998, $1 million; not more than that.”

Respected Structural Engineer Tony Gibbs. (FP)

Gibbs, 86, who was awarded the Companion of Honour in 2020 for his contributions to engineering in Barbados and the Caribbean, said that while some structural changes have been made since the hospital’s opening, most of the building remains in its original state.

“The focus of the study was a vulnerability analysis to see how safe the building is. It is not safe enough,” Gibbs stated.

He explained that while the steel frame is protected and would not collapse in a fire, major safety issues persist with the floors.

The engineer highlighted concerns about the SB slabs, made from Barbados clay, steel and concrete, which were popularly used when the hospital was built.

“That floor system is all over the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. There have been failures there. There have been failures there even in recent times,” he said, noting that these involve clay blocks spontaneously breaking and falling.

“So, I have written about that in 1998, and nothing has been done about it. They still have those SB blocks on the floors of the QEH.”

Gibbs cited similar failures in other Barbadian buildings, including banks, schools and warehouses. He recounted a particularly alarming incident at Victoria Hospital in Saint Lucia where roof slabs failed in a paediatric ward shortly after it had been evacuated due to plumbing issues.

The structural expert also pointed out fire safety deficiencies at the QEH, including a lack of fire doors for compartmentalisation and an absence of sprinklers on the wards.

“I think people will die if there is a fire in that hospital,” he warned. “But things can be done about it.”

Gibbs, who designed the Tom Adams Financial Centre housing the Central Bank of Barbados, noted that while the original 1964 structure forms the bulk of the QEH, there have been some additions.

“There have been some additions since then which probably are as good as the 1964 building,” he noted, referring to newer sections like the Lions Eye Care Centre and an extension on the western side.

But these additions do little to reduce the overall fire risk, according to the engineer.

He stressed that modern hospital design standards emphasise building facilities that eliminate the need for evacuation during fires.

This is typically achieved through a combination of sprinklers, compartmentalisation, and careful selection of construction materials.

“The Queen Elizabeth Hospital needs some work done for fire protection. The wards are not separated with fire doors, so you can’t compartmentalise the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” Gibbs explained.

“We can reasonably be talking about installing sprinklers which would be expensive, but not as expensive as human lives. And we could compartmentalise it. You could do horizontal evacuation from the area which is on fire to another part of the same floor which is not on fire.”

Drawing on his extensive experience assessing Caribbean hospitals for the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Gibbs expressed surprise that even newer hospitals in the region, such as the Mount St John’s Medical Centre in Antigua, have incorporated necessary fire safety features like fire-rated doors, smoke detectors and sprinkler systems.

“So, even a Third World country can do it; must do it,” he said.

But while the QEH’s Chief Executive said management accepted that the hospital’s infrastructure is dated, he drew attention to the PAHO study and other mitigating measures to improve safety at the medical facility.

“It is important to note that the Pan-American Health Organisation conducts periodic assessments on hospitals regionally and in September 2023, the agency conducted its Safe and Green Assessment at the QEH,” Clark said.

 “From this most recent assessment, PAHO’s Safe Hospital Index rating for the QEH is a B. 

“In addition to this, the QEH routinely conducts inspection and maintenance programmes, and simulation exercises to test the hospitals preparedness and response to incidents that may arise as a consequence of the facilities’ age.” 

The hospital boss, who has been on the job since March, stated that almost a year ago, the QEH’s fire response mechanisms were tested and its teams, with assistance from the Barbados Fire Service, were able to contain the situation.

Clark also suggested that the concerns highlighted by structural engineer Gibbs could also be resolved by building a new hospital.

“While these mitigation measures and contingencies have been established across the QEH to protect patients and staff, there is acknowledgement from management that a new hospital with modern design would also address the concerns raised by Mr Gibbs,” the CEO declared. 

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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Santo Domingo.- Meteorologist Jean Suriel announced via social media that a Saharan dust cloud will arrive in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday afternoon. He indicated that precipitation will primarily affect areas in the northwest, north, and Central Mountain Range, with showers expected in the northeast, south, and southeast between 5 and 8 PM. Additionally, Wave number 12 will traverse the Caribbean Sea.

Suriel cautioned individuals allergic to Saharan dust particles to take preventive measures due to the heightened risk of allergic reactions.

Looking ahead to Wednesday, he forecasted a very hazy sky and hot conditions due to the Saharan cloud. Remnants of the wave may lead to scattered rains in the northeast, northwest, mountainous regions, and the south.

By Thursday, the intensity of the Saharan dust is expected to diminish slightly, although it will still contribute to respiratory allergies and oppressive heat. Increased precipitation is anticipated in the Cibao and mountainous areas.

Moving into Friday and Saturday, Suriel predicted reduced Saharan dust levels and the arrival of Tropical Wave number 14, which could bring extended periods of rain and raise the potential for localized flooding.

He concluded that on Sunday, remnants of the tropical wave will likely continue to bring moderate to heavy rainfall across the Dominican Republic.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness reported on Monday that for the diarrhoeal samples tested, three samples from late May and early June showed the presence of rotavirus, in addition to the bacterial foodborne pathogens that have been previously identified.

The uptick in cases in persons older than five years moved from 34 at the end of April, to 76 cases in the week ending May 11. Since then, weekly numbers have been falling, most recently to 46 cases in the week ending June 15, but are still above the alert threshold. At this time of the year, the alert level for this age group is fewer than eight cases.

In children under five years old, the number of cases moved from eight for the week ending April 27, to 27 cases in the week ending May 18.

Rotavirus is a very contagious agent spread by contact with objects or persons contaminated with infected stool. Vomiting was a prominent symptom for many persons, according to health authorities.

Members of the public are urged to employ proper hand hygiene methods such as washing their hands regularly, especially before eating, and to continue to be cautious when purchasing ready-to-eat food items.

(BGIS)

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The Commission, in its effort to reach various segments of the population, through the theme “A Healthier Barbados, A Healthier Me”, engaged young people in a polo shirt design competition. Some 40 submissions were received from students from primary and secondary schools, both public and private, and The UWI.

The initiative builds on the implementation of the National School Nutrition Policy, by supporting the expansion of the health message across and throughout the school environments.

Entrants were judged by members of the NCD Commission in two rounds, with final tailoring by a Graphic Artist of B3 Imaging, who printed the polo shirts.

Thuo won two day passes for two persons each, to the Sam Lord’s Castle Wyndham Grand Resort. Second and third-place winners were Brooklyn Mascoll of the St Alban’s Primary School and Hayley Scott of Christ Church Foundation School, respectively. They received prizes of one day pass for two persons each, to the Sam Lord’s Castle Wyndham Grand Resort.

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Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Sunday warned that pharmacies that sell antibiotics without prescriptions would soon be shut down, as Guyana joins the rest of the world in reducing the resistance to antibiotics and other types of prescription drugs. He said the Health Ministry has received reports that a number of pharmacies have been ...

A number of communities in St James and St Thomas will be fogged this week, when the Ministry of Health’s Vector Control Unit conducts its mosquito reduction exercise.

The Unit will concentrate its efforts in St James for the first three days of the week. On Monday, Wanstead Gardens, Husbands Heights, Santa Rosa Drive, Mid-Summer Drive, and Dracaena Avenue will be targeted.

The team will then go into Dairy Meadows Road, John Plains, St John The Baptist Road, and Bamboo Ridge, on Tuesday,.

The following day the Unit will spray Hoytes Village, Cavewood Road, Bagatelle Terrace with Avenues, and Hoytes Terrace. On Thursday, Center Lane, Kew Road, and Redman Village in St Thomas will be visited.

The fogging exercise will conclude on Friday in Welches, Welches Heights, Plum Tree Avenue, Terrace Drive, Padmore Village, and surrounding districts.

Fogging takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Householders are reminded to open their windows and doors to allow the spray to enter. Children should not be allowed to play in the spray.

Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time. (PR)

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Commission chair Suleiman Bulbulia announced at Wednesday’s prize-giving ceremony that over 40 schools, both private and public, took part in the contest. 

“We were overwhelmed with the number of responses that we got,” Bulbulia said. “We were overwhelmed by the designs that were submitted. So it was a little bit tough in coming up with the final winners, but we felt really great because it was important for us that the young people are engaged in this discussion.”

The competition is part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to combat the influence of unhealthy foods targeted at children. 

Bulbulia highlighted the gravity of the situation: “We have a major issue in Barbados [where] 80 per cent of our deaths are related to NCDs, so it’s a struggle we have to fight and numbers we have to bring down.”

The commission is working to remove unhealthy influences from school environments and hopes to extend these efforts beyond the classroom, he said, acknowledging the challenges faced by young people: “We know it’s a struggle; young people are being bombarded day in and day out with messages of unhealthy foods, snacks and beverages, and we are working on making sure that when they get to school, it’s not there and not within their environment. When they get out of school we are hoping we can work on that as well.” 

The overall winner of the competition was University of the West Indies student Akebulan Thuo, whose design was inspired by his personal health journey. 

He explained: “The idea of how to actually properly lose that weight and become healthy is what I want to promote with what I did today.”

Describing his winning design, Thuo added: “When I heard a ‘Healthier Barbados’, the first thing I thought about was running, because [cardio] is one of the first steps into becoming healthier.” 

He incorporated a tropical setting, featuring people running on a beach.  

“I decided to deal with the beach as the backdrop behind the people running, so people were actually running into the sea. The idea behind that was me thinking Barbados has a brighter future. It’s basically me saying [there] is better health for Barbados,” the university student added.

The NCD Commission has touted the competition’s success as demonstrating progress in engaging youth in the fight against NCDs, which now account for eight of ten deaths in Barbados. (SB)

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Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Public Health reported through its weekly epidemiological bulletin that 170 suspected cases of measles have been recorded so far this year.

The bulletin highlights that while no cases have been confirmed, at least 18 suspected cases have been reported in various provinces during the current epidemiological week.

“San José de Ocoa and the National District Area IV have the highest number of suspected measles cases, with 8.8 in each locality. Of these cases, 57.6% are male and 38.2% are children between the ages of 1 and 4,” the report states.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend that Member States continue efforts to increase and maintain adequate vaccination coverage against measles, rubella, and mumps. They reiterate that vaccination, epidemiological surveillance, and preparation for rapid response to measles and rubella outbreaks are the three main strategies to interrupt the endemic transmission of these viruses.

PAHO/WHO Recommendations for Healthcare Professionals

• Encourage the practice of requesting proof of immunity/vaccination against measles and rubella within the healthcare sector (including medical, administrative, and security personnel).
• Raise awareness among private sector health workers about the need for immediate notification of any measles or rubella cases to ensure a timely response from national public health authorities according to national surveillance and response standards.
• Remind healthcare personnel to inquire about patients’ travel history to better assess potential exposure to measles or rubella.

Santo Domingo.- The National Meteorological Office reports that the summer solstice officially begins this Thursday in the northern hemisphere. This marks the hottest time of the year, characterized by the longest days and the shortest nights.

To cope with the heat, the office recommends that the public wear light, light-colored clothing, drink plenty of fluids (preferably water), and avoid sun exposure without proper protection between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Regarding the weather forecast, there will be increasing cloudiness from the morning hours with scattered rainfall and isolated thunderstorms expected along some parts of the Caribbean coastal region and the northeast. This includes areas such as Barahona, Pedernales, Peravia, Azua, Samaná, María Trinidad Sánchez, San Pedro de Macorís, La Romana, La Altagracia, San Cristóbal, and Gran Santo Domingo. These conditions are due to the combination of easterly winds and an upper-level trough.

From the afternoon until early evening, increased cloudiness with showers, thunderstorms, and gusty winds are anticipated, mainly affecting the provinces of Duarte, Sánchez Ramírez, Monte Plata, Hato Mayor, Monseñor Nouel, La Vega, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Santiago Rodríguez, Dajabón, San Cristóbal, San Pedro de Macorís, Gran Santo Domingo, and nearby areas.

Speaking on the QEH Pulse radio show, Dr Margaret O’Shea, whose expertise lies in kidney transplantation, emphasised the pressing need for such legislation to expand transplant options and meet the increasing demand from the dialysis patient population.

“I think it’s well known we do have a very large dialysis population, and this is increasing year on year, due mostly in part to the increasingly non-communicable diseases,” she remarked. “So the best approach or the best option for our patients with end-stage renal failure is kidney transplantation.”

While dialysis is a crucial treatment, the specialist noted it was not the optimal long-term solution.

“Given the thought that patients who at this time would benefit from a transplant need a live donor, we are not doing as much transplants as we would like, because in Barbados right now, the option for transplantation is only the live donor transplant,” Dr O’Shea explained.

A major obstacle facing the QEH transplant programme is the lack of legislation for deceased organ donation in Barbados. Dr O’Shea underscored the significance of legislative changes to expand transplant options.

“We do not have legislation for deceased donation at this time, but the good thing is the legislation is in the works,” she noted. “The minister of health is moving in that direction to ensure that we can take steps to have more organs available for transplant generally.”

The medical expert elaborated on the advantages of kidney transplantation over prolonged dialysis. She said patients live a better quality of life, live longer, “and, of course, you’re not spending all that time on the dialysis machine.”

Transplants not only improve patients’ health but also enable them to return to their normal lives more quickly.

“Patients who get the transplant are certainly able to go back to their work more readily,” Dr O’Shea emphasised. “You just spend time taking medications so you don’t reject the kidney. It’s better quality of life and also better quantity of life and certainly more cost-effective for the hospital and patient…. It’s a win-win situation for both the patients and the healthcare system.”

Dr O’Shea said there were rigorous screening processes in place to ensure the safety of both donors and recipients.

“We screen our donors very heavily because we don’t want anything to happen to the donors. They get all of the tests done to make sure they’re very healthy and fit for surgery,” she explained.

The hospital’s live donor transplant programme has achieved impressive success rates, supported by its collaboration with international partners.

Dr O’Shea said there is a “close to a 90 per cent success rate at this time”.

“So far, all of our grafts have worked, but we do have patients who, because of underlying problems, do succumb to other issues,” she added.

To foster community involvement and raise awareness, the QEH is hosting an information session about kidney transplantation on Friday at 1 p.m. at the QEH auditorium.

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