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Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 03, 2022 (SKNIS): The World Health Organization (WHO) has set out major global targets aimed at defeating the COVID-19 pandemic. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws outlined the targets and the progress made by the Ministry of Health in St. Kitts and Nevis in combatting COVID-19 during the March 02, 2022 NEOC press briefing.

“The WHO recently announced four global targets during the 9th ACT-A Facilitation Council Meeting discussing the global response to COVID-19. These global targets are to vaccinate seventy (70) percent of persons in every country by mid-year 2022; reach a minimum testing rate of 100 test per 100,000 persons per day for all countries globally; provide care for all COVID-19 diagnosed cases in all countries, and to protect all essential healthcare workers in terms of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). These measures apply to all countries globally including St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr. Laws.

From the onset, the Ministry of Health undertook a mass education and awareness campaign in an effort to inform members of the general public about everything COVID-19 related, stressing the importance of relying on credible information given the rapid spread of disinformation and misinformation in society. 

In terms of COVID-19 testing, all persons within the Federation who have tried to access testing have been tested and this includes persons with or without symptoms. Persons who are about to travel (outbound passengers) have been able to access testing and that is one of the successes of the Ministry of Health.

“COVID-19 testing is readily available in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. All persons who are diagnosed with COVID-19 are also able to access medical care. So, the majority of persons are only mildly ill and so they are followed up by our case managers. There are some, a very small percentage, that may go to the emergency room for care and some who have been admitted to the COVID-19 ward. So, all persons diagnosed with COVID-19 have received adequate care. We have an adequate supply of PPE for our healthcare workers, most notably our frontline workers. Our healthcare workers have access to an adequate supply of COVID-19 vaccines,” Dr. Laws added.

The Ministry of Health continues to encourage all persons living within the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis who can be vaccinated against COVID-19 to do so.