[www.inewsguyana.com] – Following an article published by iNews yesterday that the Ministry of Health will not ban African nationals from entering the country despite the Ebola epidemic, Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran announced late last night via an email that there are “stringent restrictions on entry to Guyana by persons who may pose a threat to the health of the Nation by the importation of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).”
He said this restriction is particularly aimed at nationals from West Africa.
The Health Minister did not go into details as to what those restrictions are, however, he noted that his Ministry has maintained vigilance since and will continue and expand as needed.
During a telephone interview with iNews yesterday (Wednesday, October 15), Dr Ramsaran assured that there is strong screening of persons coming into the country at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and at other port of entries.
He told iNews that thus far there are no suspected Ebola cases in Guyana and that at least one person was turned back to Suriname at the Moleson Creek border.
According to the Health Minister, there is a multi ministry effort to ensure that the deadly virus does not make its way to Guyana, given the fact that his ministry does not have the ability to test or treat the virus.
This includes screening tents which will be established at the CJIA and according to Dr Ramsaran, he is investigating reports that there is no monitoring of the virus at the Ogle International Airport.
He explained that an area at the Georgetown Public Hospital is being set up to quarantine persons if there are any suspected cases, while over 100 doctors and nurses have already been trained on how to handle the virus.
The Health Ministry is also looking at a specific building at the West Demerara Regional Hospital to quarantine suspected cases.
St Vincent and the Grenadines has placed a ban on nationals from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Guinea entering the island, as Caribbean countries continue to put in place measures to deal with a possible outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the region.
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said that the measure was taken given the lack of infrastructure on the island to deal with the Ebola virus for which there is no known cure.
Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Guinea are the three West African countries most affected by the Ebola virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) says 4,447 people have died from the outbreak, mainly in West Africa.
I hope not. We do not need Ebola.
The first sign of Ebola, everyone with overseas connection will be at the airport!
I hope they exercise much care and don’t be selfish like ‘Dumbcan’!
Many can pull the same stunt.
They can go to Guyana just to get out.
Skipping borders cannot be difficult.
30% of our people are of African descent.
They can easily blend in our population
You’re quite right! Personally I th the Ebola is either already in Guyana or will be in the very near future
USA brought Ebola to USA.
Talking about shooting oneself in the foot and cutting the branch you stand on!
This is total backwardness. Then we put them on a pedestal!
Their protocol sucks and instead of helping people in Africa, much needed resources must now be diverted domestically.
If one infected person enters Guyana, look out for chaos.
This person needed to be confined. This is not USA where houses are built differently.
People are so lazy in Guyana that they don’t even pick up their own garbage!
Will they protect themselves?
Will they dress properly?
Will they be in ‘suit’ 24/7?
Will they burn those suits after use every so many hours of use?
Will they stay away from everyone?
The TEXAS – USA nurse flew on a plane and now they are looking for over a hundred passengers!
Our culture is just not ready.
the jackasses can go ahead and ban the entire african continent nationals and ebola will still reach the shores of guyana and any country for that matter.
how many people already picked in guyana for illegal entry..most of them dont come through your port of entry..in plain talk they come through the bush..
u can see with your very eyes some sick folks..
u can ask people to be honest with their health.
u have medical devices to tell if people are sick.
u dont ban an entire country nationals from entering your country like st vincent said it done.
just close your eyes and picture this scenario in your mind.
US – Canada -UK place a ban n all Guyanese Nationals from entering their county.
You know Guyana suicide rate right now is the highest in the world.
might be less than one thousand guyanese leff in guyana if that happens.
guyanese under any rulers just dont like living in guyana
Guyana is most definitely at serious risk to this Ebola threat because of its porous/unprotected borders and lack of proper healthcare necessities!
That said – What does the minister mean by ‘stringent’ restrictions aimed at nationals fron West Africa? That’s poppycock and plain tunnel vision because the virus isn’t just confined to West Africa and West Africans. There are no direct flights to Guyana from West Africa! Anyone could come into contact with someone who has been infected and become a carrier!
He and his Ministry need to up their game in order to be ahead of the curve!
Is this ban being enforced at the Lethem Port of entry?