Government of Saint Lucia

Le Ministre de la Santé observe la Semaine de la Vaccination des Amériques

This year’s Vaccination Week of the Americas (VWA) campaign sets itself to close immunization gaps, wherever or whoever they may be. The goal is to reach those who have not yet received the full benefits of routine immunizations and/or the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.

The specific objectives of this year’s campaign are to:- 1) Build trust and confidence in the safety and effectiveness of all vaccines; 2) Strengthen the scope and reach one (1) of the routine vaccination program during and after theCOVID-19 pandemic; 3) Accelerate COVID-19 vaccination operations in all countries and territories of the Americas to achieve high national vaccination coverage rate, with focus on all priority groups.

https://www.govt.lc/news/minister-for-health-addresses-vaccination-week-of-the-americas

National Immunization Manager, Nurse Tecla Jn Baptiste, makes an address on Vaccination Week of the Americas.

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National Immunization Manager, Nurse Tecla Jn Baptiste, makes an address on Vaccination Week of the Americas.

The new school term commences this week. The Ministry of Education has worked closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure that all protocols are in place for the safe return of the students. Parents are reminded to work closely with the administration of the school to ensure compliance. Some of the measures include ensuring the students leave home with their masks, hand sanitizer and tissue. Also ensure that children showing signs and symptoms of respiratory illness are kept home and seek medical care at one of the Respiratory Clinics. Children in households with positive cases are also asked to remain at home in quarantine. Parents and teachers are advised to work closely with students to allay their fears and ensure a safe educational environment.

We need to ensure that as we remove restrictive measures and open up, that our proven public health protective measures are in place especially to protect the most vulnerable.

For details on these and other government developments, visit:

www.govt.lc

www.facebook.com/SaintLuciaGovernment

www.youtube.com/SaintLuciaGovernment

www.twitter.com/SaintLuciaGov

www.instagram.com/saintluciagovernment/

Young netball players from around the island got a chance to showcase their skills at a Netball Fiesta staged at the Vigie Sports Complex by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports.

As of April 17, 2022 Saint Lucia has diagnosed a total of 23,111 cases in country, with 70 active cases presently. The daily infection rate for the last 7 days is 6.8 per 100,000 population per day which represents a 7% increase from last week, with an 11% average testing positivity rate and a transmission rate of 1.2. We have noted a total of 367 COVID19 deaths. We have 9 positive COVID-19 cases admitted at the Respiratory Hospital. This past week we continue to register cases daily, we note increases in our public health indicators.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs recently received new gene sequencing results from the Caribbean Public Health Agency CARPHA. The results indicate the presence of both the Omicron BA1 and BA2 Lineages. The Omicron Variant BA1 which has been circulating since February 2022 was confirmed in 11 of the samples sequenced. 2 cases of the Omicron BA2 Variant was confirmed. Of the 2 cases of Omicron BA2 diagnosed; 1 is a male national from Anse La Raye and 1 is a female non-national from Gros- Islet.

The Omicron BA2 variant is responsible for the new waves noted in Barbados, Martinique and the developed countries. The Omicron Variant remains the dominant variant circulating globally and has replaced all other circulating variants in most countries. Although there is reduced SARS-CoV-2 testing globally from the beginning of 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic continues with intense transmission and death particularly in high-risk populations and the unvaccinated. 

The Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, Johnson and Johnson and Moderna vaccines are available at the various wellness centres. The booster vaccine is also available for persons who have been fully vaccinated for over 6 months. Everyone who has not been vaccinated is urged to get vaccinated urgently.

As we strive to live safely with COVID-19 and remove restrictive measures and open up the country, it is important that our public health protective measures are in place especially to protect the most vulnerable.

The Ministry of Health appeals to all organizations, public and private sector to ensure the maintenance of the public health protocols. Let us strive to sustain the low number of COVID19 cases as we live, work, study and recreate safely with COVID-19. For more information, please contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer or the Epidemiology Unit, at 468-5309/468-5317 respectively.

A call is being made for artistes to register to submit pieces for an art exhibition hosted by the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in collaboration with the Organization of Americas States (OAS) under the theme ‘Stories of Courage in Americans; Resistance to Slavery, Unity against Racism’.

The Saint Lucia Writers Forum and the Central Library collaborate on a local Meet and Greet the Authors activity, at the culmination of National Library Week, 2022.

For details on these and other government developments, visit:

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www.youtube.com/SaintLuciaGovernment

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www.instagram.com/saintluciagovernment/

The Environmental Health Division in the Ministry of Health recently received a donation of three vehicles from the World Bank through the OECS Regional Health Project.

Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for the Health System Strengthening Project Ira Isaacs says a donation of this type is very important as it will assist in strengthening the operations of the unit and also enhance the lives of the Saint Lucian people.

Read more: https://www.govt.lc/news/division-of-environmental-health-receives-vehicles-from-world-bank