Opposition Senator Carlos James, speaking on the radio program On the Record, has characterized the current multi-drug-resistant bacterium outbreak at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) as an “urgent public health threat” and a “critical infection control situation”.
James used his platform to criticize the Ministry of Health for what he described as a lack of transparency and a significant delay in informing the public about the crisis.
The bacterium, identified as Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii—commonly referred to as CRAB is currently spreading across the nation’s main general hospital. James highlighted the extreme danger of this specific pathogen, noting that it is resistant to most available antibiotic treatments.
The most striking portion of James’s address involved the timeline of the government’s response. While the Ministry of Health issued a public media release on August 10th, James claimed to be “reliably informed” that health officials were aware of the outbreak as early as July 17th.
“If that is true… it is quite concerning,” James stated, questioning why it took nearly a month for the public to be alerted. He further criticized the government for issuing a press release instead of a press conference, which would have allowed for media questions and a more transparent disclosure of the number of patients affected or any potential fatalities.
He also noted that the Ministry reportedly recalled its initial press release to issue a second one early the following morning, adding to the administrative confusion.
While James was careful to commend the “excellent, hardworking” doctors, nurses, and auxiliary staff working with limited resources, he placed the blame for the crisis squarely on the health administration.
“It calls for an inquiry as to our health administration and its handling of this outbreak,” James asserted.
He demanded that the Ministry provide more education to the public on the signs and symptoms of CRAB to ensure families can protect themselves. James expressed deep concern that the need for contact tracing in homes and communities suggests the outbreak has already left the hospital facility.
In an effort to manage the outbreak, the MCMH has implemented several emergency measures:
- Restricted Surgeries: All elective surgeries have been put on hold to prevent further contamination in surgical wards.
- Enhanced Infection Control: The hospital has “enhanced” its prevention and control practices, a move James suggested indicates that previous protocols may have been insufficient.
- Contact Tracing: A major operation has commenced to trace patients, medical staff, and visitors who may have come into contact with the bacteria.
