US Navy Hospital Ship Giving Free Medical in Jamaica. Some are skeptical
Hundreds of Jamaicans are expected to benefit from the nine-day medical mission of the United States (US) Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) from October 28 to November 1.
US Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), anchored in Kingston
According to the Jamaica Information Service,It is anticipated that 150 surgeries will be conducted on board the ship, which is currently docked at Victoria pier, downtown Kingston. These include ophthalmology, orthopedic, oral maxillofacial, wound care, urology, and plastic and general surgery.
Basic medical services will also be provided at walk-in sites at Sabina Park and the Greater Portmore Health Centre.
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, toured the ship on Monday (October 28), where he spoke with the doctors, nurses and other professionals who are offering their service, and thanked them for their partnership with Jamaica on this initiative.
“I am very impressed with what I saw. This is a facility that has nearly 900 beds, 100 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, over 1,000 staff members covering medical staff to support team. It’s a self-sufficient vessel producing its own oxygen, water, etcetera, and, of course, critical to all of this, are men and women, who are from different countries throughout the world, who are professionals, who go around the world and provide medical care to citizens of the world,” Dr. Tufton said.
“The facilities are very modern and the care is top-notch; it’s excellent care and I want the opportunity to thank those who are managing this process as well as the support staff,” he added.
It is anticipated that approximately 150 surgeries will be conducted onboard. Surgeries will fall under the categories of ophthalmology, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, oral maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, wound care and urology.Patient Capacity:
Intensive care wards: 80 beds
Recovery wards: 20 beds
Intermediate care wards: 280 beds
Light care wards: 120 beds
Limited care wards: 500 beds
Total Patient Capacity: 1000 beds
Operating Rooms: 12
Departments and Facilities:
Casualty reception
Intensive care unit
Radiological services
Main laboratory plus satellite lab
Central sterile receiving
Medical supply/pharmacy
Physical therapy and burn care
Dental services
Optometry/lens lab
Morgue
Laundry
Oxygen producing plants (two)
Medical Photography
Four distilling plants to make drinking water from sea water (300,000 US gallons (1,100,000 l; 250,000 imp gal) per day)VOICE NOTE WARNS JAMAICANS TO STAY AWAY FROM THE SHIP
Several voice messages are being shared on social media by people who is said to be living in the United States of America telling relatives in Jamaica to stay away from the ship. One woman, told her family member that The United States do not give away free healthcare up here so she do not know how they are giving free healthcare down there.
The woman urge her family member to spread it to everyone in her contact. She warns that the ship is there to kill black people. She went on to say they want to eliminate black people and they are going to all black countries. She urge them not to take any pills or medicine because “you will be dead”
According to THE STAR, they contacted Tufton and he said that the negative message being circulated is not only erroneous, but is unfortunate. “It is done either out of ignorance or mischief,” said the minister, adding that it is not good for international collaboration in the area of public health. “This is a medical ship that has travelled the world and involves many nationalities. They have helped many in the past and continue to do so. Those who think otherwise are ill-advised,” Tufton said.
SouFloTV discussed voice note below