The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemdia.net 

THE Ministry of Health will open clinics on the weekend to “facilitate the needs” of Marathon residents who may have been affected by the Rubis fuel leak, Public Health Administrator Charlene Bain said yesterday.

The promise to provide residents with easy, timely access to medical attention is one of several steps being taken to ensure the good health of residents, said officials, who gave an update on the screenings they are conducting in the area at a press conference at the health ministry.

Some residents told The Tribune this week that they have undergone no testing or screening since the initial fuel leak in late 2012. However, health officials yesterday said rain affected their efforts to conduct the screenings this week, which they said began on Monday.

Yesterday, they said officials had already visited 13 homes since Monday.

“The weather has been raging and this has resulted in a delay in what we are doing but we give thanks,” Chief Medical Officer Glen Beneby said.

He added: “Today is a brighter day and the rain seems to have abated for now and so this morning (Thursday) we would have a continuation in a much more demonstrative way in Marathon.

“But having said that, there was a team last evening (Wednesday) in the rain in Marathon, so we are working together along with our partners in Environmental Health, Water and Sewerage, to get this very important work done. We intend not to leave any stone unturned as we seek to address this issue.

“In addition, we take this opportunity to state that in collaboration with our partners, international experts will be made available to help us.”

Critics have said that the government is now scrambling to address the concerns of Marathon residents about the ramifications of the leak.

In keeping with recent moves to temper public anxieties, health officials elaborated on some of the steps they will take in the coming months to address health concerns.

“We have developed an action plan which includes three main strategies,” said Ms Bain. “One, continued home visits to residents in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Health and the Water and Sewerage Corporation. Secondly, we will begin examination and laboratory testing of persons impacted. Thirdly, plans are underway to open our clinics on the weekend to facilitate the needs of residents impacted and the department will announce the clinics or clinic as well as a hotline where persons can call and make appointments by the end of the day.”

She said that officials have visited 13 households since Monday, with an assessment of the data continually being done.

“These visits also provide the ministry and department an opportunity for continued partnership with local communities,” Ms Bain said.

“And hopefully by the end of the year we would have established local health committees to provide for sustained engagement and collaboration in the planning, engagement, monitoring and evaluation of health safety services to protect the well being of the Bahamian population.”

Regarding the screenings being conducted, the officials said they are following international protocols in their attempts to understand the personal health histories of people.

“This would help determine the level of risk to the person,” Mr Beneby said. “If it is determined that someone is at high risk, there is a protocol that is followed. We would follow that protocol depending on the category the person is placed in as they respond to the questions.”

A Water and Sewerage Corporation official also said that the water samples the agency has tested have been safe, featuring no contamination.

The spill occurred in late 2012 and was discovered in early 2013.

Health officials can be reached on the following hotline numbers: 242-502-4776 and 242-502-4790.