The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE.

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

ENVIRONMENTAL Health Services officials have declared the Marsh Harbour Healthcare Centre safe for patients and staff after air quality testing found no harmful mould at the facility.

The update was posted in a notice on the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Facebook page yesterday.

It follows Monday’s staff sick-out over what workers described as poor conditions at the facility, including mouldy ceilings, a non-functional air-conditioning system and faulty toilets.

Video shared with The Tribune showed mould-covered ceilings, wet floors and buckets positioned throughout the facility to catch leaks.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville attributed some of the problems to the centre’s ageing air-conditioning system, which he said had been strained by the heat.

He said he had instructed a team from New Providence to travel to Abaco to assess the conditions at the healthcare centre after some nurses reported that conditions were affecting their health.

Dr Darville said he would await the new air-quality assessment before deciding whether the facility should be temporarily closed.

“I have to wait on the air quality control report,” he said. “That's very important for me because I don't want to put my staff or the community in harm's way.”

However, the ministry said yesterday that “air quality testing by the Department of Environmental Health Services found no harmful mould and the clinic remains safe for staff and patients.”

The ministry said the problems were caused by a malfunctioning air conditioning system that caused condensation and water build up, adding that repair work on the system was underway.

“The current repairs address the immediate concerns. The ministry is advancing a permanent replacement of the ageing units through an Inter-American Development Bank Loan Programme.”