PMH bedbug infestation not unique to Dominica – Darroux

Darroux said the bedbug matter has been sensationalized
Darroux said the bedbug matter has been sensationalized

Health Minister, Kenneth Darroux, has said an infestation of bedbugs at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) is not unique to Dominica.

He said the recently reported matter has been sensationalized.

“The issue of infestation in the hospital is not new and is not unique to Dominica,” he said on state-owned DBS Radio’s Talking Point on Monday.

Earlier this month it was reported that the infestation had forced authorities to remove patients from the Glover and Imray Wards at the hospital.

Darroux said a lot of sensationalism was involved in reporting the matter.

“I felt this issue was sensationalized,” he stated, noting that “it was preposterous” to attribute the presence of the bedbugs at the PMH to the hospital administration or the government.

He noted that the PMH has “made its time” and there have been issues with other wards, such as the roof of the Dawbiney Ward which was infested earlier this year by pigeons.

He stated this resulted in the presence of “chicken mite,” commonly known as ‘pou poule,’ at the ward and an advisory was given for sanitizing it.

“But with plans for the new hospital we had to determine whether we go ahead and invest in completly replacing the roof of the Dawbiney Ward to the tune of almost $400,000 while the new hospital will soon be built,” he said.

Meanwhile Darroux pointed out that the new hospital will be built at the current PMH site.

He noted this poses “its own unique challenges” since the PMH will continue to function while the new hospital is being built.

He pointed out the the government will be assisted by the UN and PAHO “to guide us in that regard because they have told us it has been done in the past and they would have had expertise in the implementation of such projects…”

Darroux did not give a time line as to when actual construction of the new facility will begin.

The new hospital has been spoken about for up to five years now and during the election campaign late last year, the Dominica Labour Party said construction would begin in the “first quarter of 2015.”

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62 Comments

  1. concerned
    March 19, 2015

    Surely i expected a person qualified as a medical practitioner would be more responsible heading the medical ministry but it is abundantly clear that this man is demonstrating his inability to run the ministry, look at the state of the Marigot Hospital even vagrants are sleeping there now as i write, most clinics around the island has nothing to dress minor cuts, no tetanus in an entire health district, and now you are claiming not unique to Dominica. is it because when members of the click is ill they can quickly go to Martinique, i feel very sorry for our people who are clearly brain washed by the political hand outs and have to to pay the price in situations like this, 5 more years!!!!!

  2. tru d bino q la
    March 19, 2015

    Where is Princess Magaret herself to rescue her name from among bedbugs? or do we have a synonym here?

  3. mentalCase
    March 19, 2015

    Peenez…in this day and age? So is like “take dat and doh dig”

  4. The Facts
    March 19, 2015

    To the knowledge of many, it may be the first time they heard of this infestation. In all the years after the PMH was built, I have never heard of it.
    In the spirit of a matured adult who utilizes common sense in also this matter, I hope the bed bug infestation is under control and that it will not spread throughout the hospital. Better yet, that it is eradicated.
    Check the bed, bed frames and crevices in the rooms. They do hide there, proliferate and then come out and bite the patients. These things are a nuisance and will obviously make the patients uncomfortable and lose rest and sleep.
    I am pleased to know that the new hospital will be built on the compound of the PMH which can be called the old hospital. :) I do think this is the best place for it, sort of central. There is ample space to build it.

  5. Watching
    March 18, 2015

    Alas papa……..

  6. IMJustSaying
    March 18, 2015

    As usual, the DLP (Dominica Living in Poverty) chose, as always to deflect from the real issue. So, because its not ‘unique’ does it in fact resolve the issues that are faced with the infestation of bed bugs?

    I cannot believe these ministers are going to be running this country for another 5 more years… time for me to look for an exit strategy…

  7. Ideal
    March 18, 2015

    Darroux, you must be high on something. how can you justify what you said. I will not say anymore.

  8. Ex Da Law ms
    March 18, 2015

    The end justifies the means.Unbelievable.This statement from someone in the medical field. In short he’s saying they are sick already,what’s the big deal.You would have thought that they learned from the Marigot Hospital experience.One has to wonder who is in charge of maintenance at the hospital.This is the main hospital on the island and should be maintained at the highest level,until the new one is built.This is being penny wise and pound foolish,like my dad would say.What if,God forbid, there’s a major disaster on the island?Obviously,there’s no regular inspections.That bug problem did not happen overnight to the point where patients had to be removed.God help us.

    • Queenbee
      March 19, 2015

      what the hell a u talking about? R u for real? Hundreds of people come through the hospital, r u saying that even if “regular inspections” are carried out short of going through each patients’ belongings as a TSA agent u can still miss the bed bugs..And DNO there was NO INFESTATION.. How else would they have gotten rid of the few bedbugs??? If not by FUMIGATION?? How else would they have fumigated the wards if they did not remove the patients from the fumes????? PROACTIVE DECISION, to fumigate the neighboring wards so as to avoid the spread…. And DNO, what is an INFESTATION again? a whole lot or just a few? smdh @ Ex Da Law ms, What bed bug problem? u lot are going on as if the hospital had to be shut down, stupesss am so fed up of people saying things they have no clue about….Read my lips: THERE WERE A FEW BED BUGS ON ONE PATIENT’S BED…ONE PATIENT..TO avoid it from multiplying they wards were fumigated…

  9. March 18, 2015

    No Dominicans comes up with any ideas to create one job or solve the garbage problem or feeding the nation.

  10. March 18, 2015

    To much politics not enough talking about solving problem do dominicans have the brains to create the jobs we need. Every body wants to work in Roseau pushing papers producing nothing

  11. samantha
    March 18, 2015

    so if its not unique, that means it should not be commented on? Nobody said it was unique to Dominica. But we are interested because this is where we live.

  12. A DOUBTING Thomas
    March 18, 2015

    If I was in charge of health I would have been proactive during the Marigot hospital fiasco. I would have gone into damage control by checking all hospitals on the island and making sure that all bugs are exterminated. The problem at PMH had been around even during the Marigot hospital problems Arose. What a shame. We spent money to bring Destra Donny,Beress,Carimi ,imported stage and sound systems. We claim that friends gave us money for campaign and we did not ask the so called friends to help with hospital malaise.
    But I continue to milk the cow so I wil m support corruption as long as I benifit from corrupt politicians

  13. no name no warrant
    March 18, 2015

    Wow! What a pronouncement. Now you wonder how people like that get elected to serve in the highest office in a country. This guy is everything bad that was already said about him including very disrespectful to the people of Dominica.

    I guess Darroux you are asking Dominicans to be as tolerable with the bed bugs sucking them at the hospital as they are with you and the rest of the incompetent cabinet sucking the life out of Dominica.

    It’s not an unreasonable request Darroux by any stretch of the imagination.

  14. faceup
    March 18, 2015

    When Labourites vote for Skerro, Skerro put them to sleep with poupoul and bed bugs when they sick at the hospital? Are those voters mentally sick and illiterate…I am so happy I don’t share that misery..

    • The Facts
      March 18, 2015

      It could be worst for you in the future. Pray God you never will.

  15. Digital Future
    March 18, 2015

    Now you have Bedbugs instead of Bitcoins Happy? the country is going backwards

    • Titiwi
      March 19, 2015

      Digital, what bedbugs have to do with your beloved bitcoin? Are they the same thing? We don’t want bitcoin and no bedbugs either. You can call me stupid, I don’t mind but I rather keep my trusted, uncontaminated dollar.

  16. March 18, 2015

    The politicians in dominica are a bunch of untidy old brats…with no respect for the people who put them in position..they are concerned about their monthly pay ,partying ,making new houses for each member of their family…when ever they feel sick they take the plane to get their health check in foreign countries …it is normal to have bed bugs in the pmh because instead of making a new hospital with new equipments including bed sheets and pillows the patients most bring their own sheets and pillows…people are over staying even when they have their own home and family …now is poupoule ,don’t tell the world it is due to having pigeons on the roof…is their any ward in the hospital where chickens are hospitalised ,breed chicks and poupoule…it is a shame …we need an urgent change in dominica these politician must go…

    • Stanley
      March 19, 2015

      Wow G.B your comments amazes us we thoght that yur religion did not go the polls Who are you trying to impress? Dominicans . We are not impressed. Guess what . you Are not Dominican . Do not bother to respond becausr we will not b lookin

  17. MIND BOGGLING
    March 18, 2015

    Darroux since it’s not A BIG DEAL why don’t you spend a Month in the DAWBINEY Ward with the ROOF leaking, on the PEST INFESTED MATTRESS AND THE BED CLOTHES covered with BUGS? That’s the type of INCONSIDERATE , RUTHLESS NINCOMPOOPS we have GOVERNING our country?
    DOMINICANS when is ENOUGH going to be ENOUGH?
    What will it take to have the people STAND UP and demand this Criminal Enterprise take responsibility for their INACTION?
    It’s one Empty Promise after another when the problem arises, then, when they think the people have forgotten, they simply move on to the next Agenda.
    Darroux ought to be ashamed of himself!

  18. Lang Mama
    March 18, 2015

    Is leadership that matters when LABOR Ka Twavaille. Which government can kill two malfini with one stone.
    two hospital hit by vermin.
    Which government can simultaneously burn penez at a landfill and control paroz in the city by smoking the tourist and tourist ships out of port.
    Which government can close down to shameful red clinic and open up a feeding program for party cabal.
    Only in Dominica -truly unique when it is convinient or inconvenient

    • The Facts
      March 18, 2015

      Both hospitals are old. The woodworks are old and so are the beds and mattresses. These result in termites, bed bugs and whatever else. They need new hospitals with new beds and mattresses. You know, this cost money and will take time to build.

  19. REAL!!!!
    March 18, 2015

    It is not Unique……So These things will not change under DLP party.

    1..
    2. Doing deals that does benefit taxpayers of this country is not unique to Dominica.
    3. High Unemployment is not unique to Dominica.
    4. Corruption is not unique to Dominica.
    5. No electoral reform is not unique to Dominica.
    6. Tampering with the judicial system is not unique to Dominica.
    7. Victimizing our people is not unique to Dominica.
    8. Selling passports to crooks and criminal is not unique to Dominica.
    9. Poor healthcare services is not unique to Dominica.

    What a GOVT!!!!!!!!

    • The Facts
      March 18, 2015

      Why do some of you not campaign for election? You appear to know so much and criticize everything with no concrete suggestion. Maybe you could do better? I wonder. :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted:

  20. truththe
    March 18, 2015

    Please try to stop that bedbug thing before it spread over Dominica as in the fifties. I can recall the Government at the time used D.D.T to spray all homes in DA, that what gave us relief.
    Dominicans be watchful and check your homes and take preventable measures to stop the spread. Thank you.

  21. bougla
    March 18, 2015

    in many top hospitals around the developed world it is possible to catch an infection while you are hospitalised.

    • The Facts
      March 19, 2015

      Some hospitals patients catch a cold and then pneumonia which they eventually die from.

  22. zammy
    March 18, 2015

    Mr minister, Will n come again . You cant be serious at all, trying to defend the poor state of the hospital n a total collspse of the health sector.
    Bed bugs, even stufg from birds oh.no.
    For 14 years dats what you all rewarded Dominicans with.
    Perhaps Dominicans who voted for labour deserve such treatment cause labah k twzvie…The truth is, if dese GUYS fall sick, is helicopter n air ambulance,whilst Domincans getting sucked by bed bugs.. its a big stink

  23. mandate 2 mismanage
    March 18, 2015

    hahahahahah the best part of these pathetic comments…”the new hospital will soon be built”
    No date offered for when building will start, much less finish, but it will “SOON” be built.
    Nary a word of when decision was made to build on the PMH site…this comes as a sidebar in a conversation about an infestation of bed bugs.

    And even better…no update on the state of the infestation. Has it been remedied Darroux? Has it spread to other wards…I mean really, this is how you address a situation of such magnitude?!

    • The Facts
      March 19, 2015

      Cease placing a curse on yourself, on Dominica and its endeavors.
      The principle is, if you have nothing good to state, state nothing. Keep quiet.

  24. Love All
    March 18, 2015

    Why was the state house built before the hospital was it because the state house was more important than the hospital at the time or poor planning? Someone please give an answer.

    • Titiwi
      March 19, 2015

      The state house have its bugs too, believe me, Chinese listening bugs!

  25. Maay Npear
    March 18, 2015

    I volunteer to work for free .
    I will ask for regular meetings ,reports,problem solving ,action taken..
    Bugs…asks private sector to spray,
    When there is money in the treasury they collect
    Thats what happening now…
    And everyone complies.
    Hospital built outside roseau..
    Scientist advised decentralise ,to many govt services in one area
    I will make pmh a home for the drug addicts and homeless…
    Come on minister dont embarrass my PM…so many of us can do that job for free with results…

  26. Dominican
    March 18, 2015

    Just simply fix the problem and minimize the possibility of this occurring in the future.

  27. Malgraysa
    March 18, 2015

    Dear Dr. Darroux, it was not you who put these bedbugs there, we know that but you are responsible for making sure that they are eradicated in the shortest possible time. You are a doctor of medicine but your cavalier attitude to this problem does not exactly instill confidence in your management of the public health service. It would have been easy enough for you to say that you are sorry this has happened and that you will do everything in your power to rectify the situation. No need to bring politics into it or shoot the messengers.

  28. femmedominique
    March 18, 2015

    Honestly, honestly, I really believe this guy has not a wee idea what he is talking about.

    This is insane, I work with hotels, can you believe the response I would get had I stood up and use similar wordings if one of our hotels were to have bed bugs.

  29. Dan Tanner
    March 18, 2015

    So it’s not unique? Is that supposed to make it all right?

    • Ma Moses
      March 18, 2015

      I agree with you. Excuses like that make me mad. It is an old excuse that children use. We should have a standard for excellence and strive to attain that at all times. Bedbugs in a hospital are wrong, period.

  30. Francisco Telemaque
    March 18, 2015

    Hogwash Darroux; you are ashamed of the infestation, but the reality is Dominica seems to be a place prone for bedbugs okay! As far as I can remember bedbugs has been a plague in Dominica. Most of us the older ones remember the days of the late 1950’s when UNISF came in with the chemical DDT, and sprayed into practically all the houses in the country trying to eliminate the problem.

    We now know that DDT is a cancer causing agent.

    It was common to see bugs crawling on people in schools and in church: I remember a catholic priest said during a service. “if you see me scratching its because of bedbugs.” The last time I saw a bedbug crawling on someone in Portsmouth was in 1987. Your duty is to eliminate the problem, and stop making silly unfounded excuses. Do not be shamed man, Bed bugs are here too, the last time my daughter and her children stayed in the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, they were eaten by bedbugs!

  31. TRUEMAN
    March 18, 2015

    *****IT’S NOBODY’S FAULT BUT THE BUGS*******

    “I felt this issue was sensationalized,” he stated, noting that “it was preposterous” to attribute the presence of the bedbugs at the PMH to the hospital administration or the government”.

    …………………………………………………………..

    Are we taking note of this foolishness from the Heath minister???

    It’s not the hospital’s or the governments fault? WOW!!!! So if he happens to have bed bugs at his home don’t hold him responsible it would be the bug’s fault!!!

    Sleep tight DA!
    -Thanks

  32. Mamizoo
    March 18, 2015

    And Ian says we are a smart and mature electorate. In a competitive world people strive to be unique. Our closest bench mark is the OECS region so Doctor minister name one other example in the region where one hospital in the region was shut down because of termites and another the main hospital is infested with penez and Pou poul.
    Talk about sensationalism – what about the parading of thevulnerable and less fortunate year round on GIS just because government assisted these needy people. Other administrations have assisted the less fortunate just the same so we can all agree government assistance in that regard is not “Unique ” to the present administration But they reserve the rights to sensationalism,arrogance and marading

  33. Trevor Fabien
    March 18, 2015

    Dominicans on a whole will continue to suffer ignominy at the hands of these ignoramus, inept and inconsiderate politicians.
    How can a minister responsible for anything make such flippant statement. It is such a callous statement to make but Dominica is nice and Labour Ka Twavaye, that is what some people think. What a wonderland of calamitous decisions by hapless leaders and politicians.

    • Francisco Telemaque
      March 18, 2015

      Trevor, it is said “we sleep in the bed we make; ” if we make it soft, we sleep in a soft bed, if we make it hard we have no alternative than to sleep in that hard bed; Dominicans wanted labor government, that’s what they got. Each year they elect these incompetent people the set the country backwards. I am sure if Darroux gets ill today with a headache, he will run to Martinique or some other developed country to be hospitalized, hence he will not sacrifice his body to bedbugs. Unfortunately the ignorant people who vote labor lack that privilege.

      The Marigot Hospital was eaten to its core by termites, as a result it is closed forever it seems. Although bedbugs are found in developed countries, they seem to be more common in place where people are poverty stricken, as in Dominica!

      Bedbugs multiply by an infinite number per day; soon that place may become so infested, the doors may have to be closed, it a health hazard you see; one may go to the hospital suffering from one…

  34. March 18, 2015

    It really saddens me that a Minister of Health can have such a nonchalant attitude about something as serious as this with a comment “this is nothing new”…Has this issue been resolved and /or what steps are being taken to resolve this?….As a side bar, with all the government support for Venezuela, I don’t want to hear any of you come her to the US to have children…go to Venezuela! !!

    • March 18, 2015

      Looks like the U S belong to you. anyone can go and have their child/children anywhere they fell like. so shut you face.may be you on the deportation list anyway

      • Francisco Telemaque
        March 19, 2015

        Not everybody can go anywhere, and give birth to their children. If that was so every pregnant woman in Dominica would head to America, or the more developed countries of the world to give birth to their children.

        Skerrit has the advantage; and if he had any interest in his child been born a Dominican, as head of the country he would not allow his child to be born on foreign soil. If by any chance his wife was vacationing here and labor called, time to give birth, an emergency, and the child was born here that would have been alright.

        It is another matter if you are selective as to where your child is born. Skerrit was deliberate in where his child first see the sun, and which is the better place Venezuela, or America? Skerrit knows, Dominica is never going to be a progressive place as long as he rules Dominica, so he ensured his sun will be privilege to live in America, and Canada if that becomes necessary. As an American on does not encounter difficulties if they wish to live…

  35. Bee
    March 18, 2015

    What a joke!! So because bedbugs not unique to PMH that makes it acceptable? What a joke!!!

  36. grell
    March 18, 2015

    Well well another false lies and deceit,this is new too me,Continue fooling them Darroux,you guys will pay the price one day.

  37. CC
    March 18, 2015

    I dont know how the govt can justify building a state malice, before building a new hospital for the citizens of the country.

  38. Erasmus B. Black
    March 18, 2015

    Of course our PMH bed bug infestation is not unique! What is unique Dear Minister Darroux, is the tardy response by clueless health officials trying to justify the presence of those little red vermins at our main hospital.

  39. Duncekyat
    March 18, 2015

    Don’t these ministers have advisers to advise them on what to say before they speak so that they don’t sound like complete incompetent …. when they speak? SMFH!!

  40. Shaka zulu
    March 18, 2015

    What. Is the minister really trying to tell people Pou poule and bed bug in the state’s main hospital is not a big deal. What the …. Is wrong with these guys. So it is OK because other places have it.

    Who came up with the bright idea to build a hospital at the current location? Do we really want construction equipment, workers and all that comes with construction in the area? what about staff safety, noise, dust control, space…. Etc. The level of our thinking is beyond comprehension. What a place!!!

  41. ?????????
    March 18, 2015

    So even though it aint unique to us does that mean it acceptable…… so because murder not unique to us its ok to kill???

  42. AA
    March 18, 2015

    Seriousely Darroux?? i mean Seriousely?? SMH

    • Freedom Finder
      March 18, 2015

      The word is ‘seriously’ AA…and I don’t think it was a spelling error on your part because you spelt it that way twice. You need to do a spell-check before posting, ok.

      • faceup
        March 18, 2015

        Mr OXFORD YOU GOT THE POINT…Move on

      • Shaka zulu
        March 18, 2015

        The only people who have the responsibility to ensure proper grammar here is DNO. This is a blog. It is about ideas not who has best grammar.

  43. febrese
    March 18, 2015

    god bless you bro.. keep up the good work. i love your style.. serious, positive, hard worker, straight forward, honest.. and must of all rude……… in the correct way…… PM material..

  44. Pedro
    March 18, 2015

    Incompetence at the most senior levels. Past experience is not vindication. The government does not seem to really care about properly managing including maintaining facilities. Not to mention standards all over are way low; people being paid at that level do not think big enough and content with the status quo. You can see that just from the bathrooms at the hospital for example. It is most apparent in the health sector (anyone re,ember the Marigot hospital infestations) but also visible in education (how many times schools are rendered inoperable), roads, you name it. The technocrats should know better but even when they bring matters up it does not get budgetary support. The ministers pander to politics and the highly visible activities. A patient dying here and there, another suffering unecessaily due to lack of standards or facilities matters not. Its not the relative or family member of the minister. They go to Martinique when its their turn, on the public purse.

  45. March 18, 2015

    Just you know sir. The first quarter of 2015 is almost over and still nothing smh

  46. jojo
    March 18, 2015

    Are you justifying that sir?

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