KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Health says it has activated its emergency protocols after high levels of absenteeism by Registered Nurses – with an overall average of 52 per cent – reported at several health facilities across the island.

The ministry said in a release a short while ago that while there has been no official notification of industrial action by the Executive of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ), it has alerted the Ministries of Finance and Planning and Labour and Social Security.

Health Minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson says the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been activated and emergency protocols are in place to ensure that operations at health facilities are not severely hampered. 

“The Regional Technical Directors have all been alerted and directed to monitor the situation at the local level. The EOC team has been contacting all hospitals and health centres to ascertain the extent of the problem,” Dr Ferguson said.

The EOC will ensure the ongoing monitoring of attendance of nurses and the impact on service delivery, provide central direction and guidance to the Regional Health Authorities and service delivery points and determine the nature of the intervention that may be required, the release said.  

The ministry noted that the EOC will also maintain close contact with all service delivery points including RHAs, Parish Health Departments, Hospitals and Health Centres, oversee the re-deployment of staff if needed based on the emerging situation, and periodically advise the public of measures being taken and of any changes to service delivery.

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