Caribbean news. ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA, MARCH 19, 2015 – GIS: _ The Ministry of Health has received 41 thousand US dollars worth of advanced health surveillance equipment from Government and People of the Republic of China.
Four handheld Advance Infrared Scanning Systems and 2 stationary Advance Infrared Scanning Systems with a built-in state-of-the-art high resolution tracking cameras, along with other accessories were handed-over to the Ministry of Health on Tuesday by Madam Ou Boqian, the resident Chinese Ambassador to Grenada.
Also present to receive the high-tech health surveillance equipment was Chief Medical Officer, Dr. George Mitchell who described the equipment as crucial.
“This is a very crucial piece of equipment, as it would allow us to be able to detect anyone coming into the country with possible conditions we do not want” explained Mitchell who heads the country’s national response and chairs the Ministry’s Infectious Diseases Taskforce, which was constituted by former Health Minister Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen in 2014.
Mitchell told reporters that the priceless bit of modern health equipment will strengthen the Ministry’s response, adding that the Ministry is extremely concern about any infectious disease that could and would affect the country.
Meanwhile Health Minister Nickolas Steele who received the items on behalf of the Grenadian people thanked the Chinese Ambassador and by extension her Government and People for their assistance.
The Health Minister reassured the Ambassador that the Ministry will not only care for the equipment but put it to use for the benefit of the all citizens of the tri-island.
The equipment will be installed at the main ports of entry in the coming weeks, as local health authorities continue to beef-up its surveillance and response systems to combat infectious diseases.
To date the Ministry has 13 handheld Advance Infrared Scanning Systems and 2 stationary Advance Infrared Scanning Systems with a built-in state-of-the-art high resolution tracking cameras.
