KINGSTON, Jamaica –The Ministry of Health is reporting that several strategies have been employed to ensure that the health sector is able to manage and mitigate the impact of the Zika virus.

A news release from the ministry today said that health practitioners in the public and private sector have been informed of the strategies and that they are working closely with them.

Some of the strategies, the ministry said, include the creation of clinical guidelines, Stocking of adequate supplies of the requisite medication to appropriately treat all forms of Zika manifestation, and preparation of intensive care units and high-dependency areas have been included in the clinical list, the release stated.

Also, the ministry said additional ventilators will be procured and repairs made to the ones that do not work.

 “We are using our existing systems under the very successful Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Programme to monitor pregnant women and their babies in our clinics. This model has worked well over the years and the staff is already trained in this regard,” Health Minister Dr Chris Tufton stated.

He added that these initiatives to prepare the health sector form part of the Ministry of Health’s Phase Two Response to the Zika virus.