- Calls may be made/received from Portsmouth
- Fax and landline services are back in commission.
- Ongoing assessment on school infrastructural system
- There will be the introduction of a new program : “Cash For Work” which will engage private citizens in clean-up efforts throughout the island and pay weekly for their labour.
- Health Services continue to be a priority
- Princess Margaret Hospital continues to function along with most of the major type 3 healthcare centers on island.
- Major health concerns : a. Leptospirosis b. Gastroenteritis c. Asthma/chronic lung problems c. Dengue Fever d. Tetanus infection e. Chronic diseases: diabetes, heart problems etc..
- Precautionary measures being encouraged on Dominica to avoid the spread of vector-borne diseases and other infections.
- Conditions of Princess Margaret Hospital: Only some of the wards are currently functional and occupied. Water and electricity have been partially restored. Only emergency/life-saving surgical procedures are being performed. Oxygen plant has been damaged, parts are being shipped to fix the machinery as well as a new one being expected the near future. X-rays and ultrasounds are being done. CT scans and lab work are not able to be performed.
- To date: 17 patients have been evacuated to Dominican Republic and 2 patients to Martinique.
- Over the last few days a medical administration team has been deployed to visit primary healthcare centers in Marigot, St. Joseph, Castle Bruce and Portsmouth. There are plans to visit Grand Bay when roads are accessible and also La Plaine. The aim of these visits was to assess structural integrity of facilities, assess pharmaceutical supplies, to deliver water and motivate staff.
- The majority of the 49 healthcare centers on the island have been affected.
- Some nurses are operating clinics out of their residence.
- La Plaine staff are operating out of the Jones Beaupierre Secondary School.
- The Marigot health center has been moved to Wesley.
- Grand Bay facilities are still not accessible from outside of the village, but is being run by resident healthcare staff.
- Some of the smaller facilities on the island are completely out of commission.
- Plans to set-up mobile and temporary units in communities where the healthcare center have been most affected.
- Challenges in providing health care: limited fuel for generators, limited vaccines (especially tetanus vaccine), limited pharmaceuticals, exhausted and psychologically impacted providers and staff.
- Environmental health officers are operating in all health districts except Grand Bay (due to lack of accessibility)
- Household waste disposal expected to commence today. Areas have been designated for the dumping of solid trash (galvanize, wood , debris etc..)
- Pest management is being organized to curb pest population.
- Running water has been restored to the following communities: Roseau, Portsmouth and environs, Cochrane.
- Water is still not suitable for drinking, 60, 000 aquatabs have been distributed.
- There are plans to set-up temporary water-treatment facilities in Dublanc (first) and Coulibistrie and Calibishie (shortly afterward).
- In order to prioritize the psychological well-being of Dominicans post-Maria, 12 mental health practitioners have been brought in from Trinidad and Tobago.
- More than 100 healthcare providers around the country have been invited to provide support to members in their communities.
- Plans to run a media mental health campaign as well as train part-time mental health providers such as pastors, community workers etc…
- Personnel still needed in Dominica : Biomedical engineers, electricians, handymen, cleaners, cooking staff, environmental health specialists, health educators, medical officers, pharmacists, help for distribution of supplies and other logistics.
A lot of stuff to send home. We need more coordination from the ground to let us know the non- political groups to send things to.
Close your eye and just distribute to any one who come for things.
What I want to know is why people, who were leaving in desperation by ferry after the hurricane were being charged departure tax, at the port $60 per person cash only of course, collected in a large black plastic bag, That is very insensitive of the government under the circumstances. American citizens were lifted off by helicopter by their army to other islands like Martinique, at no cost and they certainly did not pay any departure tax. That is absurd.
Any of the airports open? How are the people who are devastated gonna get out to get to their families in other islands?
This statement came form Facebook, by Mr. Corbet, from once at AID Bank…interesting
The PM should not be pissed. Why should he be? He may not be eating sardines and corned beef but he has surrounded himself with parasites who are mishandling him and they eat sardines and corned beef. The PM has a good heart, but certain of his handlers have black hearts and will destroy him. He ought to act quickly and get rid of the ticks that are sucking his blood. I have held my silence long enough,I thought Erika had taught the PM a lesson. It did not. I was there. As manager of Aid Bank I provided space at the Industrial Estate for release supplies. I saw irregularities. PM, do not be pissed, do not cry. Like Moses, lead your people. I will send you a personal email with whom you should dismiss forthwith.
Mr. Corbet, thanks for coming openly after burning years of silence. Skerrit is inept because he has surrounded himself with political parasites for years and have engaged him in niceties that all is a well. We professionals like yourself ought to be open but it comes with a price by those clueless blind supporters who has got him there, that is why people now shout “Skerrit Must Go”. His close friends are yes, parasites and people like Mr P.Bellot from up the hill is one of those who should be brave enough like Corbet to be open with this clueless, immature PM and stop breastfeeding him political rhetoric. PM is hurting Dominica, with his immaturity. There are many out there like Corbet who share same views but unable to share with colleagues of kind. That’s how they vent.
Now Corbet has confirmed this|: Breaking News: “As manager of Aid Bank I provided space at the Industrial Estate for release supplies. I saw irregularities”. Skerrit should be ashamed of himself and resigned…
Thank you for the update , Is anyone able to comment when the airport will be available for commercial flights to land in Dominica as there s lots of UK families that would like to travel to Dominica and assist family and friends. Thank You all.
Is there a way to make contact with family members on Grand Bay? I’m stateside trying to contact my grandmother.
It’s been approximately 2 weeks since the hurricane.
Many doctors and nurses have been working very long hours..NO RELIEF FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS!
NOT A biscuit. Not a soap. Many of whom have lost their homes and personal belongings
Most times no breakfast. No dinner. Yet the work continues. Supervisors have yet to call a meeting with staff to plan or support the efforts.
Essential workers MUST be protected and provided for because without them the system will crash.
I don’t believe for a second that the PM slept on No mattress on no floor, and if so, where the “hell” (according to him) you want to sleep sir? After all, while mosquitoes bussing my skin, No sleep to very little sleep in heat…over worked for the pass two weeks you were riding on fancy planes country to country saying you adressing UN and visiting countries when you persons like Vince Henderson and Lauren Bannis being paid to do these jobs, you packed up your family and dig out, there sleeping in air…
CONTINUATION
Essential worker
…you packed up your family and dig out, there sleeping in air conditioned executive suit and penthouse. So if you spend one night on a mattress it’s better than we who have no mattress and sleep in our leaking vehicles…so shut the “hell” up..STOP winning …Put on your big girls panty and WORK!
CONTINUATION
Essential worker
you packed up your family and dig out, there sleeping in air conditioned executive suit and penthouse. So if you spend one night on a mattress it’s better than we who have no mattress and sleep in our leaking vehicles…so shut the “hell” up..STOP winning …Put on your big girls panty and WORK!
I would really like to know how many bodies have been buried and how many are still missing. Numbers.
It seems the disaster preparedness in Dominica has to go back to the drawing board and figure out a different way of handling. Food need to be stored in different part of the country. The idea that people have to walk to much to get some food is poor planning.More ham radios on the island and training to be given to three people in each section of the island. put the country in sections where boats can bring food. I hope the prime minister have taken out from his crying to evaluate himself. preparedness will score a zero..
Please do not blame God or Maria for the destruction of Dominica as Dominica was destroyed by the belief that we are above God.
Our ways were not God’s ways, so we inflicted this calamity on ourselves. We abandoned God and started worshiping and elevating men.
God was and is still patient with us, but we HAVE to change our evil ways.
i have an eco lodge in soufriere area….i need to get back to dominica to assess and start rebuild…please advise coming from stateside through puerto rico..absolutely will help clear in soufriere.
After looking at what Maria did to us and how she left us, I cannot help but wonder how Noah and his family of seven that survived the flood felt after the flood- see Gen 7 & 8; They had to be shocked to see the destruction that occurred. I also remembered the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra from Gen. 18: 16-19: 29, and wondered how the survivors felt to see the devastation. I couldn’t help but thought of the great city of Nineveh that was about to be destroyed – Jonah 1:1, but when God saw how the leader responded to Jonah’s prophetic word and repented along with the entire city, God’s wrath was stayed. I wonder if there was something we could do to stop that destruction?
Any estimate about when bulk water supply ports will be working.
Any news on when commercial flights will land and depart again in Douglas Charles Airport? THX
It has been great to be able to access such balanced information. Any information regarding how Gutter Village in Portsmouth fared?
What is the latest death toll from Hurricane Maria in Dominica and how many people are still missing. There have been reports of bodies seen floating in the seas off Dominica. Is this tue?
Great job on the updates,My brothers and sisters please be positive,the more we are the better the help and comforting will continue,sad that a few are still calling and complaining,people put politics aside,this is what God is trying to tell us all join hands and praying,help out one another and we will rise.The outside world is watching and monitoring us lets shine as one.
What is the death toll and how many people are still missing. There have been reports of bodies seen floating on the seas off Dominica. Is this true?
The judgement of Maria revealed that we were no at all ready! There is nothing we could do to prevent her from judging us with her 165MPH wind and at times felt like 200 mph. However, if were better prepared fewer people would die and people would not be as hungry and thirsty as we were and, there would not have been as much looting as we still have going on. For example, the morning of Maria, Matt had a high ranking police officer on Q95 and Matt asked him if they were prepared for Maria especially for looting. His boastful response was, we are more than ready and tell them (looters) to try it because “we will be waiting on them”. As we saw it was the looters that waited on the police and that was a NO show! Skerrit told us is a small storm and no need to pile up food and water and we found out a day after the storm we had no food and water and stores had none to sell. They told CNN that the food and water they had they shipped to where Irma destroyed but that to is not true
The morning of Maria, Doctor Skerrit told us that it was a small storm that would not last long and as a result there was NO need to stockpile with food and water. Well we followed the doctors prescription and didn’t stockpile with food and water. As we all see it was a very powerful hurricane that lasted many hours unlike what DOC predicted. Doc you were wrong and that’s why you need to allow trained professionals to do there work! As soon as Maria struck we saw trouble as not only was Dominica totaly destroyed, but our hospitals / health centers had no paracetamol or just about nothing; They told a CNN reporter reporting from the PM’s office that they sent our hurricane reserve to Irma affected countries but read the article below and tell me if they had anything reserved in case Irma or any storm had hit us: https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/dominica-donates-four-containers-to-three-hurricane-irma-affected-islands/. It’s private citizens that quickly put…
Certain areas still don’t have land line devices
What going on I Castle Bruce I haven’t gotten any info on that village
Because I spoke the truth about what I experienced in Dominica during Maria, some of you are cursing me and even asked that the wind had blown away. I shall not respond to any of that but rather, I will allow spoken words to be our guide. I am not saying Dr. Skerrit could stop the storm but while Dr. Fontaine, Joshua Francis and Linton were on Q95 warning people about the strength of the storm and admonishing people to prepare, here is what Doc Skerrit told us: “I want to make this very important point that the next few hours should be placed on cleaning up the house, the property rather than stockpiling weeks of food and other supplies. This is not a system, based on advice, that will linger very long, therefore the goal must not be on stockpiling supplies but the mitigating damage caused by flying objects as well as fallen trees, shrubs etc.” In essence doc told us is a small weak storm and no need to stock pile food & water. We were caught with no food and water and u still…
Here is a quote from Dr. Skerrit’s WRONG prescription to us “I want to make this very important point that the next few hours should be placed on cleaning up the house, the property rather than stockpiling weeks of food and other supplies. This is not a system, based on advice, that will linger very long, therefore the goal must not be on stockpiling supplies but the mitigating damage caused by flying objects as well as fallen trees, shrubs etc.” https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/update-statement-by-pm-skerrit-on-hurricane-maria-as-of-1115-am/. After doctor Skerrit gave us bad prescription and we were left hungry, thisty because we took his advise, some of you living in the DIASPORA that do not know a thing about what is really going on in Dominica, yet all you still don’t want us to talk and even asking for the wind of Maria to have blown us out? We shall hear many more because evil NEVER wins even if it is allowed to continue for a while
You should understand at that time Maria posed no harm to Dominica. It was then a Category I hurricane. As it approached D/ca it increased to a Category 5. The fact is it came, did much damage and it is gone.
You know the proverb, “No use crying over spilled milk”. Dominicans now have to clean-up the place and live as best as they could and look forward to better times, whenever that is but it will come. Patience! Be positive.
I haven’t heard a lot about Castle Bruce how are the condition in that village
Those press conferences give me hope and sound so organized but when I speak to individuals on the ground it sounds like pure chaos and confusion. Not one person whom I have spoken to has seen one relief item or received one cup of water as of today so I am really confused and angry.
Thanks so much for the update! Up till now this is the only news I have gotten.The cash for work program is brilliant and will really help the welfare and moral of the people. God bless you all and know that you are in our prayers night and day.
C Fraser – I guess u have not seen the video by the chunky T/dadian guy with the portie in hand!
This is great information keep it coming!!!
Why should the people of DA be paid to clean their own island? Why can’t the people come together as one? Everyone keeps saying that DA will rise again. How can it rise if we cannot come together as one nation to clean our own land? Foreigners and DA diaspora spontaneously donate and expect nothing even though life is rough on their side. Now is time to give back to the country! Show your love for Dominica! Stand up an clean. Show your pride and dignity! No cash should be allocated for this task when there is so much to invest in rebuilding the country.
It’s time to show the world what the real spirit of Dominicans .is! Let’s practice what we preach! One love Dominica. Apres Bondie c’est la ter (after God is the earth).
Pleas ADMIN, can you put my comment under the one of C fraser?
Thank you.
People need money. In addition it gives them an incentive to do something.
Alas they trying hard to give people hope and I don’t blame, but its going to be tuff. It will take a life time to get close to where we were. Maria judged us, destroyed us and maybe finish with us. Its really heartbreaking man
Is there a contact for applying or a cook staff job? Where can persons go for more information?
Hello:
There was no process for application outlined at the press briefing. Here is the contact information for the Office of Disaster Management in Dominica. Someone may be able to direct you accordingly.Good luck!
http://odm.gov.dm/contact-us